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RED-LETTER DAYS 
OF SAMUEL PEPYS 



i 




SAMUEL PEPYS.. 
After the portrait in the National Portrait Gallery, painted by John Hailes in 1666. 



RED-LETTER DAYS 
OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

EDITED BY 

EDWARD FRANK ALLEN 

WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY 

HENRY B. WHEATLEY 



NEW YORK 

STURGIS AND WALTON 

COMPANY 
1910 






Copyrighted 1910 
By STURGIS & WALTON COMPANY 



Set up and electrotyped 
Published, November, 1910 



P3CQ*V<5*d from 

HAY 13 1911 



PREFACE 

Pepys's Diary is long, and life is short; yet those who 
have failed to meet the Diarist have missed a rare 
pleasure. Hence this volume of selected passages — 
red-letter days from our standpoint, if not always from 
his — which will serve, it is hoped, as a good intro- 
duction to such as do not know Mr. Pepys, and wish 
to make the acquaintance of that most original and 
entertaining gentleman. These selections will also 
serve to make him more easily accessible to the host 
of those who are already on good terms with him. 

The editor has aimed, in assembling the passages 
that follow, to present a sketch that is characteristic 
of Mr. Pepys's many-sided personality — a sketch full 
of vitality that will catch in its comparatively few lines 
the distinctive traits of its original; and he has also 
endeavoured to prepare a volume pleasant to have 
at one's elbow, and most welcome when heavier read- 
ing palls, and there is a desire to beguile the time with 
something at once curious and enlivening. 



PREFACE 

Only such notes are included as are necessary to the 
enjoyment and understanding of the text. For most 
of these the editor's thanks are due to Lord Bray- 
brooke's edition of the Diary. Notes provided by the 
editor are signed with his initials. 

EDWARD FRANK ALLEN. 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . X J 

MR. PEPYS BEGINS HIS DIARY .... I 

MR. AND MRS. PEPYS . . . . . 3 

MR. PEPYS'S AMUSEMENTS ..... 20 

MR. PEPYS ON ART . . . . . .31 

MR. PEPYS ON BOOKS AND READING .... 33 

MR. PEPYS AS A MAN OF AFFAIRS . . . .41 

MR. PEPYS'S DEVOTIONS ..... 56 

MR. PEPYS IN HIS CUPS . . . . 70 

THE PEPYSES WOO TERPSICHORE ' ' • 73 

MR. PEPYS HAS PERILOUS EXPERIENCES . . -75 

MR. PEPYS WITH HIGH AND LOW .... 82 

MR. PEPYS IS DIPLOMATIC . . . . .85 

MR. PEPYS AS CONVIVIALIST .... 87 

MR. PEPYS'S WORLDLY ESTATE . . . . -91 

MR. PEPYS THE GOSSIP . . . . .101 

MR. PEPYS IS GREGARIOUS ..... I08 

THE HABILIMENTS OF MR. PEPYS . . . .110 

MR. PEPYS AS A HOST . . . . . .113 

vii 



CONTENTS 



PAGE 

MR. PEPYS AND HIS PATRON, LORD SANDWICH . . 120 

MR. PEPYS'S LOVE FOR MUSIC .... 127 

MR. PEPYS THE OBSERVER . . . . -135 

THE PERQUISITES OF MR. PEPYS'S OFFICE . . 1 54 

MR. PEPYS'S PERSONAL APPEARANCE .... 158 

MR. PEPYS AT THE PLAY ..... l6l 

MR. PEPYS'S RELATIVES ...... 185 

MR. PEPYS ON RELIGION ..... I97 

MR. PEPYS AND ROYALTY . . . . 202 

MR. PEPYS COMMENTS ON SCIENTIFIC MATTERS . 214 

MR. PEPYS AND HIS SERVANTS ..... 220 

MR. PEPYS VIEWS THE CORONATION OF CHARLES II. . 226 

MR. PEPYS'S RECORD OF THE PLAGUE .... 233 

MR. PEPYS'S ACCOUNT OF THE GREAT FIRE . . . 243 

MR. PEPYS IS SUPERSTITIOUS ..... 200 

MR. PEPYS'S VALENTINES ..... 265 

MR. PEPYS AND THE FAIR SEX ..... 267 

MR. PEPYS MARVELS AT WONDERFUL THINGS . . 280 

MR. PEPYS'S EYESIGHT ... ... 295 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 



samuel pepys ..... Frontispiece 



ELIZABETH PEPYS 



FACING PAGE 

68 



EDWARD, FIRST EARL OF SANDWICH . . 120 

NELL GWYN ...... 170 

CHARLES II. ...... 230 



INTRODUCTION 

I have been asked to write a few notes on Samuel 
Pepys, the inimitable Diarist, as a preface to this book of 
classified extracts from the great work which has given 
him lasting fame, and I do so w T ith great pleasure, in the 
hope that the remnant of the lovers of good things who 
have not read and re-read the entire Diary may be 
brought to see the error of their ways, and thus join the 
widespread band of devoted Pepysians. Surely no power 
on earth can prevent any one who has read some of the 
Diary from reading the w T hole at the earliest opportunity. 

The Diary should please every one, for it appeals both 
to the serious student and to the miscellaneous readers of 
pleasant chat. Sir Walter Scott was one of the first to 
review it on its first appearance, Samuel Taylor Coleridge 
w 7 as delighted with it, and Macaulay's admiration of it 
was unbounded. 

Sir George Trevelyan, in his admirable life of his 
uncle, relates a remarkable dream the historian had not 
long before his death, which proves how highly he 
esteemed Pepys and his w T ork. Macaulay wrote to Mr. 
Ellis that the dream was " so vivid that I must tell it. 
She [his younger niece] came to me with a penitential 
face, and told me that she had a great sin to confess; 
that Pepys's Diary was all a forgery, and that she had 
forged it. I was in the greatest dismay. 'What! I 
have been quoting in reviews, and in my history, a 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

forgery of yours as a book of the highest authority. How 
shall I ever hold up my head again ? ' I awoke with a 
fright, poor Alice's supplicating voice still in my ears." 

It is a grievous disappointment that Charles Lamb, 
who must have revelled in the book, has not left us his 
impressions in immortal Elia Essays. Louis Stevenson 
fortunately has given us his views on the author. The 
Diary has established itself in the hearts of the general 
public, but new generations are growing up who have 
still to learn the value and charm of the book. 

Nothing in literature is like it, for it is absolutely 
honest in its revelations, and there is none of the postur- 
ing so common in ordinary confessions. It is amazing 
to find a man who can lay bare his heart so thoroughly 
even to himself, for there can be no question that he 
never intended the Diary to be seen by other eyes than 
his own. 

It is these confessions which give the book its chief 
charm to the general reader, and he is to a great extent 
right in his appreciation. We have the vivid picture of 
the inner life of a man, who grew almost daily, displayed 
in all completeness before our eyes. But the very fulness 
of detail in the picture staggers us so that in the end we 
cannot thoroughly fathom the character of the man, and 
are forced in trying to understand it to catalogue his 
characteristics instead of painting his character. Many 
of these characteristics appear to be antagonistic, and we 
must leave them at that. The one point that is written 
all over the Diary is that through life Pepys was in 
deadly earnest. Everything he did was done thoroughly, 
whether in work or play, and Pepys possessed the power 



INTRODUCTION 



of putting his energetic nature into everything he did, 
setting aside for the moment that which immediately 
preceded his present object. He is generally set down as 
a common-place man, and to a certain extent he was so, 
but he was a man of great imagination — not of the 
higher order, for he was, as Coleridge said, " a pollard 
man — " but he saw into the very heart of the things 
around him, and he lived with keen enjoyment of the 
life that was before him. Of no man could it be said 
with more truth that nothing human was alien to him. 
In this characteristic is constrained his power of drawing 
us by his words, how T ever much we may disapprove of 
some of his actions. The superficial reader, being thus 
shown the inner recesses of the writer's soul, is apt to 
take up a superior position and to treat the Diarist with a 
contemptuous judgment as inferior to himself, but this 
is not just. 

The considerate reader, on the other hand, will feel a 
kind of awe in observing the workings of a naked soul, 
and make allowances, for there is a certain greatness in 
the transparent truthfulness of the man. Really the 
worst point in the confessions is that in most cases he 
has no word of regret for his sins. Having said so much 
of the man as he appears in the Diary, we must bear in 
mind that these confessions form but a portion of the 
book, and that in the historical portion we have vivid 
pictures of the many incidents in which he took a promi- 
nent part that are of the greatest value, such as the 
Coronation of Charles II., the Dutch wars, and the sad 
condition of the Navy, which he did his utmost to reform, 
the devastating progress of the Plague, during which he 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

kept to his work while others fled from London, as well 
as the destruction of the city by the Fire, to suppress 
which he did much. 

He was always learning, and he obtained a great mass 
of important information by reason of his remarkable 
power of Socratic questioning. By the side of such in- 
stances of a noble nature the foibles of vanity, such as 
pride in his personal appearance and his fine clothes, sink 
into insignificance. 

We must also remember that after all the particulars 
in the Diary extend over only ten years of his ever active 
life. There is no doubt that these have given him his 
great fame, but those who admire the man for the great 
work he did wish it to be known that while they will 
give place to none in appreciation of the value and charm 
of the Diary, they will not rest until they have made the 
general public thoroughly understand that this man, who 
has often been treated with scant respect on account of 
our knowing certain discreditable facts of his life, through 
his own confessions only, was a really great man, and a 
patriot who should be held in honour by all Englishmen 
for what he did of permanent importance. If we set 
down a few of the facts in Pepys's life we shall be able to 
appreciate the man as he was known to those around 
him in the world he lived in. 

He went into the Navy Office with no knowledge of 
ships individually or of the Navy as a whole, and in a 
few years he had become " the right hand of the Navy " 
(as Monck, Duke of Albemarle, called him), who not 
only knew more of administration than all the other 
officers put together (some of these being brilliantly sue- 



INTRODUCTION 



cessful admirals of distinction), but knew how to carry- 
on his business in the best possible manner and with no 
small success. Pepys was really an historical character 
of the first rank, for he figured in all the most important 
scenes that occurred during his official life, first as Clerk 
of the Acts, and afterwards in the more responsible post 
of Secretary to the Admiralty. He was at work in that 
dark hour when the Dutch were in the Medway, and he 
was among the few who did well in that time of national 
humiliation. He suffered during the " terror " of the 
Popish Plot, being sent to the Tower, but he collected 
such overwhelming evidence of his innocence that he 
covered his influential enemies with confusion, and his 
defence was so complete that he was ordered to be set 
free without a trial. 

His last great work was to reform the Navy, which 
owing to his absence from the Admiralty had been 
brought into a dangerous condition by an incompetent 
Commission. All these labours won for Pepys the esteem 
and respect of those who knew him and were competent 
to judge. 

When, however, the Revolution took place he was 
suspected as a Jacobite, and was sent to the Gatehouse at 
Westminster, but he was bailed out of prison by friends 
of importance, never to be troubled again. 

When the Diary was first published in 1825 (after hav- 
ing remained in MS. shorthand nearly one hundred and 
fifty years), the fame of Pepys's patriotic work of a life- 
time had rather faded out of general knowledge, and few 
particulars of his life were available. Now much has 
been recovered by various enthusiastic workers, and we 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

can construct a fairly complete account of the particulars 
of his life. 

Besides all his work at the Admiralty, Pepys found 
time to attend the meetings of the Royal Society (of 
which great Society he became the President) and to 
collect many objects of interest, which with his fine 
library are preserved at Magdalene College, Cambridge. 

He was a great man who did good work for his country 
in difficult times, and has laid us all under great obliga- 
tions by what he has left us. 

H. B. Wheatley. 



Red-Letter Days of Samuel 
Pepys 



MR. PEPYS BEGINS HIS DIARY 

January, 1659-60. 

Blessed be God, at the end of the last year, I was in 
very good health, without any sense of my old pain, but 
upon taking of cold. 1 I lived in Axe Yard, having my 
wife, and servant Jane, and no other in family than us 
three. 

The condition of the State was thus: viz., the Rump, 
after being disturbed by my Lord Lambert, was lately 
returned to sit again. The officers of the Army all 
forced to yield. Lawson lies still in the river, and Monk 
is with his army in Scotland. Only my Lord Lambert 
is not yet come into the Parliament, nor is it expected 
that he will, without being forced to it. The new 
Common Council of the City do speak very high ; and 
had sent to Monk, their sword-bearer, to acquaint him 

1 On March 26, 1658, Pepys had been successfully cut for the stone ; 
malady which seems to have affected several other members of his family. 
B I 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

with their desires for a free and full Parliament, which is 
at present the desires, and the hopes, and the expectations 
of all : twenty-two of the old secluded members having 
been at the House-door the last week to demand 
entrance, but it was denied them ; and it is believed 
that neither they nor the people will be satisfied till 
the House be filled. My own private condition very 
handsome, and esteemed rich, but indeed very poor ; 
besides my goods of my house, and my office, which 
at present is somewhat certain. Mr. Downing master 
of my office. 



MR. AND MRS. PEPYS 



MR. AND MRS. PEPYS 

August 1 8, 1660. 

Towards Westminster by water. I landed my wife at 
Whitefriars, with ^5 to buy her a petticoat, and my father 
persuaded her to buy a most fine cloth, of 26s. a yard, 
and a rich lace, that the petticoat will come to £5 ; but * 
she doing it very innocently, I could not be angry. 

November 4, 1660. 

My wife seemed very pretty to-day, it being the first 
time I had given her leave to weare a black patch. 

November 15, 1 660. 

My Lord did this day show me the King's picture 
which was done in Flanders, that the King did promise 
my Lord before he ever saw him, and that we did expect 
to have had at sea before the King come to us ; but it 
come but to-day, and indeed it is the most pleasant and 
the most like him that ever I saw picture in my life. 
As dinner was coming on table, my wife came to my 
Lord's, and I got her carried in to my Lady, who was 
just now hiring of a French maid that was with her, and 

3 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

[they] could not understand one another till my wife 
come to interpret. Here I did leave my wife to dine 
with my Lord, the first time he did ever take notice of 
her as my wife, and did seem to have a just esteem 
for her. 

December 2, 1600. 

(Lord's day.) To church, and Mr. Mills made a good 
sermon : so home to dinner. My wife and I all alone to 
a leg of mutton, the sawce of which being made sweet, 
I was angry at it, and eat none, but only dined upon the 
marrow-bone that we had beside. 

March ii, 1 66 1. 

After dinner I went to the Theatre, and there saw 
" Love's Mistress " done by them, which I do not like 
in some things as well as their acting in Salisbury Court. 
My wife come home, and she had got her teeth new 
done by La Roche, and are indeed now pretty handsome, 
and I was much pleased with it. 

May 5, 1661. 

To supper in the banquet-house, and there my wife 
and I did talk high, she against and I for Mrs. Pierce 
(that she was a beauty), till we were both angry. Then 
to walk in the fields, and so to our quarters, and to bed. 

June 9, 1 66 1. 

(Lord's day.) This day my wife put on her black 
silk gown, which , is now laced all over with black gimp 

4 



MR. AND MRS. PEPYS 



lace, as the fashion is, in which she is very pretty. She 
and I walked to my Lady's at the Wardrobe, and there 
dined, and was exceeding much made of. 

September 18, 1661. 

Up early, and begun our march ; the way about 
Puckridge very bad, and my wife, in the very last 
dirty place of all, got a fall, but no hurt, though some 
dirt. At last, she begun, poor wretch, to be tired, and 
I to be angry at it, but I was to blame ; for she is 
a very good companion as long as she is well. In the 
afternoon, we got to Cambridge, where I left my wife 
at my cozen Angier's, while I went to Christ's College, 
and there found my brother in his chamber, and talked 
with him, and so to the barber's and then to my wife 
again, and remounted for Impington, where my uncle 
received me and my wife very kindly. 

January 1 1661-62. 

Waking this morning out of my sleep on a sudden, I 
did with my elbow hit my wife a great blow over her 
face and neck, which waked her with pain, at which I 
was sorry, and to sleep again. 

March 2, 1662. 

(Lord's day.) Talking long in bed with my wife, 

about our frugall life for the time to come, proposing to 

Iher what I could and would do, if I were worth ^2000, 

/ jthat is, be a knight, and keep my coach, which pleased her. 

*^To church in the morning: none in the pew but myself. 

5 



V 



1/ 



J 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

March 24, 1662. 

Comes La Belle Pierce to see my wife, and to bring 
her a pair of peruques of hair as the fashion now is for 
ladies to wear ; which are pretty, and are of my wife's 
own hair, or else I should not endure them. 

December 19, 1662. 

Home, a little displeased with my wife, who, poor 
wretch, is troubled with her lonely life, which I know 
not how, without great charge, to help as yet, but I will 
study how to do it. 

January 6, 1662-63. 

Home, and found all well, only myself somewhat 
vexed at my wife's neglect in leaving of her scarfe, 
waistcoate, and night-dressings in the coach, to-day, 
that brought us from Westminster ; though, I confess, 
she did give them to me to look after. It might be as 
good as 25s. loss. 

January 28, 1662-63. 

My wife come home, and seeming to cry ; for, 
bringing home in a coach her new ferrandin waistecoate, 
in Cheapside, a man asked her whether that was the 
way to the Tower ; and, while she was answering him, 
another, on the other side, snatched away her bundle out 
of her lap, and could not be recovered, but ran away 
with it, which vexes me cruelly, but it cannot be 
helped. 



MR. AND MRS. PEPYS 



June 25, 1663. 

This noon I received a letter from the country from 
my wife, wherein she seems much pleased with the 
country : God continue, that she may have pleasure 
while she is there. She by my Lady's advice desires a 
new petticoat of the new silk striped stuff — very pretty. 
So I went to Pater Noster Row presently, and bought 
her a very fine rich one — the best I did see there, and 
much better than she desires or expects. 

January 15, 1663-64. 

My wife tells me that my uncle Wight hath been 
with her, and played at cards with her, and is mightily 
inquisitive to know whether she is with child or no, 
which makes me wonder what his meaning is, and after 
all my thoughts, I cannot think, unless it be in order to 
the making his will ; and I would to God my wife had 
told him that she was ! 

February 2, 1663-64. 

To the 'Change, and thence off to the Sun Taverne 
with Sir W. Warren. He did give me a pair of gloves 
for my wife wrapt up in a paper, which I would not 
open, feeling it hard ; but did tell him that my wife 
should thank him, and so went on in discourse. When 
I come home, Lord ! in what pain I was to get my wife 
out of the room without bidding her go, that I might 
see what these gloves were ; and, by and by, she being 
gone, it proves a pair of white gloves for her, and forty 
pieces in good gold, which did so cheer my heart, that 

7 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

I could eat no victuals almost for dinner. I was at a 
great loss what to do, whether to tell my wife of it or 
no, for fear of making her think me to be in a better 
condition, or in a better way of getting money, than yet 
I am. 

February 6, 1663-64. 

Home, whither come one Father Fogourdy, an Irish 
priest, of my wife's and her mother's acquaintance in 
France — a sober and discreet person, but one that I 
would not have converse with my wife for fear of 
meddling with her religion. He confirms to me the 
news that for certain there is peace made between the 
Pope and King of France. 

March 28, 1664. 

Home, and there find, by my wife, that Father 
Fogourdy hath been with her to-day, and she is mightily 
for our going to hear a famous Roule preach at the 
French Ambassador's house : I pray God he do not 
tempt her in any matters of religion, which troubles 
me. And also, she had messages from her mother to- 
day, who sent for her old morning-gown, which was 
almost past wearing ; and I used to call it her kingdom, 
from the ease and content she used to have in the 
wearing of it. I am glad I do not hear of her begging 
any thing of more value. 



August 23, 1664. 



ugust 23, 1004. 

Talking with my wife, and angry about her desiring 
8 



MR. AND MRS. PEPYS 



to have a French maid all of a sudden, which I took to 
arise from yesterday's being with her mother. But that 
went over, and so she be well qualitied, I care not much 
whether she be French or no, so a Protestant. 



September 3, 1664. 

I have had a bad night's rest to-night, not sleeping 
well, as my wife observed ; and I thought myself to be 
mightily bit with fleas, and in the morning she chid her 
maids for not looking the fleas a' days. But, when I 
rose, I found that it is only the change of the weather 
from hot to cold, which, as I was two winters ago, do 
stop my pores, and so my blood tingles and itches all 
day, all over my body. 

February 2 1, 1664-65. 

My wife busy in going with her woman to the hot- 
house to bathe herself, after her long being within doors 
in the dirt, so that she now pretends to a resolution of 
being hereafter very clean. How long it will hold I 
can guess. 

August 7, 1665. 

Talking with Mrs. Pegg Penn, and looking over her 
pictures, and commended them ; but, Lord ! so far short 
of my wife's as no comparison. 

May 4, 1666. 

To Mr. Hales, to see what he had done to Mrs. 
Pierce's picture, and whatever he pretends, I do not think 

9 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

it will ever be so good a picture as my wife's. Thence 
home to dinner, and had a great fray with my wife 
about Browne's coming to teach her to paint, and 
sitting with me at table, which I will not yield to. 
I do thoroughly believe she means no hurt in it ; but 
very angry we were, and I resolved all into my having 
my will done, without disputing, be the reason what it 
will ; and so I will have it. This evening, being weary 
of my late idle courses, I bound myself to very strict 
rules till Whitsunday next. 

May 9, 1666. 

To White Hall, and heard the Duke commend 
Deane's ship, " The Rupert," before " The Defyance," 
built by Castle, in hearing of Sir W. Batten, which 
pleased me mightily. To Pierce's, where I find Knipp. 
Thence with them to Cornhill, to call and choose a 
chimneypiece for Pierce's closet. My wife mightily 
vexed at my being abroad with these women ; and, 
when they were gone, called them I know not 
what, which vexed me, having been so innocent with 
them. 

August 12, 1666. 

(Lord's day.) I and my wife up to her closet, to 
examine her kitchen accounts, and there I took occasion 
to fall out with her, for her buying a laced handkercher 
and pinner without my leave. From this we began both 
to be angry, and so continued till bed. 

10 



MR. AND MRS. PEPYS 



February 25, 1666-67. 

Lay long in bed, talking with pleasure with my poor 
wife, how she used to make coal fires, and wash my foul 
clothes with her own hand for me, poor wretch ! in our 
little room at my Lord Sandwich's ; for which I ought 
for ever to love and admire her, and do ; and persuade 
myself she would do the same thing again, if God should 
reduce us to it. 

March 22, 1667. 

My wife having dressed herself in a silly dress of a 
blue petticoat uppermost, and a white satin waistcoat 
and white hood, though I think she did it because her 
gown is gone to the tailor's, did, together with my being 
hungry, which always makes me peevish, make me 
angry. 

May 11, 1667. 

My wife being dressed this day in fair hair did make 
me so mad, that I spoke not one word to her, though I 
was ready to burst with anger. After that, Creed and I 
into the Park, and walked, a most pleasant evening, 
and so took coach, and took up my wife, and in my 
way home discovered my trouble to my wife for her 
white locks, swearing several times, which I pray God 
forgive me for, and bending my fist, that I would not 
endure it. She, poor wretch, was surprized with it, 
and made me no answer all the way home ; but there 
we parted, and I to the office late, and then home, and 
without supper to bed, vexed. 

11 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

May 12, 1667. 

(Lord's day.) Up, and to my chamber, to settle some 
accounts there, and by and by down comes my wife to 
me in her night-gown, and we begun calmly, that, upon 
having money to lace her gown for second mourning, she 
would promise to wear white locks no more in my 
sight, which I, like a severe fool, thinking not enough, 
begun to except against, and made her fly out to very 
high terms and cry, and in her heat, told me of keeping 
company with Mrs. Knipp, saying, that if I would 
promise never to see her more — of whom she hath more 
reason to suspect than I had heretofore of Pembleton — 
she would never wear white locks more. This vexed 
me, but I restrained myself from saying any thing, but 
do think never to see this woman — at least, to have her 
here more ; and so all very good friends as ever. My 
wife and I bethought ourselves to go to a French house 
to dinner, and so enquired out Monsieur Robins, my 
perriwigg-maker, who keeps an ordinary, and in an ugly 
street in Covent Garden, did find him at the door, and 
so we in ; and in a moment almost had the table covered, 
and clean glasses, and all in the French manner, and a 
mess of potage first, and then a piece of bceuf-a-la-mode, 
all exceeding well seasoned, and to our great liking ; at 
least it would have been anywhere else but in this bad 
street, and in a perriwigg-maker's house ; but to see the 
pleasant and ready attendance that we had, and all things 
so desirous to please, and ingenious in the people, did 
take me mightily. Our dinner cost us 6s. Walked over 
the fields to Kingsland, and back again ; a walk, I think, 

12 



MR. AND MRS. PEPYS 



I have not taken these twenty years ; but puts me in mind 
of my boy's time, when I boarded at Kingsland, and 
used to shoot with my bow and arrows in these fields. 
A very pretty place it is ; and little did any of my 
friends think I should come to walk in these fields in this 
condition and state that I am. Then took coach again, 
and home through Shoreditch; and at home my wife 
finds Barker to have been abroad, and telling her so 
many lies about it, that she struck her, and the wench 
said she would not stay with her : so I examined the 
wench, and found her in so many lies myself, that I was 
glad to be rid of her, and so resolved having her go 
away to-morrow. 

May 29, 1667. 

My wife comes home from Woolwich, but did not 
dine with me, going to dress herself against night, to go 
to Mrs. Pierce's to be merry, where we are to have 
Knipp and Harris and other good people. I at my 
accounts. Anon comes down my wife, dressed in her 
second mourning, with her black moyre waistcoat, and 
short petticoat, laced with silver lace so basely that I 
could not endure to see her, and with laced lining, which 
is too soon, so that I was horrid angry, and would not 
go to our intended meeting, which vexed me to the 
blood, and my wife sent twice or thrice to me, to direct 
her any way to dress her, but to put on her cloth gown, 
which she would not venture, which made me mad : and 
so in the evening to my chamber, vexed, and to my 
accounts, which I ended to my great content, and did 

l 3 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

make amends for the loss of our mirth this night, by 
getting this done. 

December 30, 1667. 

To the King's playhouse, there to see "Love's 
Cruelty," an old play, but which I have not seen before ; 
and in the first act Orange Moll come to me, with one 
of our porters by my house, to tell me Mrs. Pierce and 
Knipp did dine at my house to-day, and that I was 
desired to come home. So I went out presently, and 
by coach home, and they were gone away : so, after a 
very little stay with my wife, I took coach again, and to 
the King's playhouse again, and come in the fourth act ; 
and it proves to me a very silly play, and to everybody 
else, as far as I could judge. But the jest is, that here 
telling Moll how I had lost my journey, she told me 
that Mrs. Knipp was in the house, and so shows me to 
her, and I went to her, and sat out the play, and then 
with her to Mrs. Manuel's, where Mrs. Pierce was, and 
her boy and girl ; and here I did hear Mrs. Manuel and 
one of the Italians, her gallant, sing well. But yet I 
confess I am not delighted so much with it, as to admire 
it : for, not understanding the words, I lose the benefit 
of the vocalitys of the musick, and it proves only instru- 
mental ; and therefore was more pleased to hear Knipp 
sing two or three little English things that I understood, 
though the composition of the other, and performance, 
was very fine. Thence to my bookseller's, and paid for 
the books I had bought, and away home, where I told my 
wife where I had been. But she was as mad as a devil, and 

14 



MR. AND MRS. PEPYS 



nothing but ill words between us all the evening while 
we sat at cards — W. Hewer and the girl by — even to 
gross ill words, which I was troubled for. But I do see 
that I must use policy to keep her spirit down, and to 
give her no offence by my being with Knipp and Pierce, 
of which, though she will not own it, yet she is heartily 
jealous. 

^January 2, 1667-68. 

This day my wife shews me a locket of dyamonds 
worth about ^40, which W. Hewer do press her to 
accept, and hath done for a good while, out of gratitude 
for my kindness and her's to him. But I do not like 
that she should receive it, it not being honourable for me 
to do it ; and so do desire her to force him to take it 
back again, he leaving it against her will yesterday with 
her. And she did this evening force him to take it back, 
at which she says he is troubled : but, however, it 
becomes me more to refuse it, than to let her accept 
of it. 

February 18, 1667-68. / 

Up to my wife, not owning my being at a play, and -S, 
there she shows me her ring of a Turky-stone [turquoise], 
set with little sparks of dyamonds, which I am to give 
her, as my Valentine, and I am not much troubled at it. 
It will cost me near £5 — she costing me but little com- 
pared with other wives, and I have not many occasions 
to spend money on her. 

15 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

February 23, 1667-68. 

This evening, my wife did with great pleasure show 
me her stock of Jewells, encreased by the ring she hath 
made lately as my Valentine's gift this year, a Turky 
stone set with diamonds : and, with this and what she 
had, she reckons that she hath above £150 worth of 
Jewells, of one kind or other ; and I am glad of it, for it 
is fit the wretch should have something to content 
l^ herself with. 

January 3, 1668-69. 

Home ; and to supper and read ; and there my wife 
and I treating about coming to an allowance to her for 
clothes ; and there I, out of my natural backwardness, 
did hang off, which vexed her, and did occasion some 
discontented talk in bed, when we went to bed ; and 
also in the morning, but I did recover all. 

January 4, 1668-69. 

Talking with my wife, and did of my own accord 
come to an allowance of her of ^30 a-year for all 
expences, clothes and everything, which she was mightily 
pleased with, it being more than ever she asked or ex- 
pected, and so rose, with much content. 

January 10, 1668-69. 

(Lord's day.) Accidentally talking of our maids before 
we rose, I said a little word that did give occasion to my 
wife to fall out ; and she did most excessively, almost all 
the morning, but ended most perfect good friends ; but 

16 



MR. AND MRS. PEPYS 



the thoughts of the unquiet which her ripping up of 
old faults will give me, did make me melancholy all 
day long. 

January 12, 1668-69. 

This evening I observed my wife mighty dull, and I 
myself was not mighty fond, because of some hard 
words she did give me at noon, out of a jealousy at 
my being abroad this morning, which, God knows, 
it was upon the business of the Office unexpectedly : 
but I to bed, not thinking but she would come after me. 
But waking by and by, out of a slumber, which I 
usually fall into presently after my coming into the bed, 
I found she did not prepare to come to bed, but got 
fresh candles, and more wood for her fire, it being 
mighty cold, too. At this being troubled, I after a while 
prayed her to come to bed ; so, after an hour or two, 
she silent, and I now and then praying her to come to 
bed, she fell out into a fury, that I was a rogue, and 
false to her. I did, as I might truly, deny it, and was 
mightily troubled, but all would not serve. At last, 
about one o'clock, she come to my side of the bed, and 
drew my curtaine open, and with the tongs red hot at 
the ends, made as if she did design to pinch me with 
them, at which, in dismay, I rose up, and with a few 
words she laid them down ; and did by little and little, 
very sillily, let all the discourse fall ; and about two, but 
with much seeming difficulty, come to bed, and there 
lay well all night, and long in bed talking together, with 
much pleasure, it being, I know, nothing but her doubt 
£ 17 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

of my going out yesterday, without telling her of my 
going, which did vex her, poor wretch ! last night, and 
1 cannot blame her jealousy, though it do vex me to the 
heart. 

February 2, 1668—69. 

My wife in mighty ill humour all night, and in the 
morning I found it to be from her observing Knipp to 
wink and smile on me, and she says I smiled on her ; 
and, poor wretch ! I did perceive that she did, and do on 
all such occasions, mind my eyes. I did, with much 
difficulty, pacify her, and we were friends, she desiring 
that hereafter, at that house, we might always sit either 
above in a box, or, if there be no room, close up to the 
lower box. 

February 7, 1668-69. 

(Lord's day.) I up, and to church, and so home to 
dinner, where my wife in a jealous fit, which lasted all 
the afternoon, and shut herself up in her closet, and I 
mightily grieved and vexed, and could not get her to tell 
me what ailed her, or to let me into her closet, but at 
last she did, where I found her crying on the ground, 
and could not please her ; but at last find that she did 
plainly expound it to me. It was, that she did believe 
me false to her with Jane, and did rip up three or four 
silly circumstances of her not rising till I come out of 
my chamber, and her letting me thereby see her dressing 
herself ; and that I must needs go into her chamber ; 
which was so silly, and so far from truth, that I could 

18 



MR. AND MRS. PEPYS 



not be troubled at it, though I could not wonder at her 
being troubled, if she had these thoughts. At last, I did 
give her such satisfaction, that we were mighty good 
friends. 

May 1 8, 1669. 

Dined in my wife's chamber, she being much troubled 
with the tooth-ake, and I staid till a surgeon of hers 
come, one Leeson, who had formerly drawn her mouth, 
and he advised her to draw it : so I to the Office, and by 
and by word is come that she hath drawn it, which 
pleased me, it being well done. So I home, to comfort 
her. 



x 9 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 



MR. PEPYS'S AMUSEMENTS 

April 9, 1 66 1. 

The sale 1 being done, the ladies and I, and Captain 
Pitt, and Mr. Castle took barge, and down we went to 
see the Sovereigne, which we did, taking great pleasure 
therein, singing all the way, and among other pleasures, 
I put my Lady, Mrs. Turner, Mrs. Hempson, and the 
two Mrs. Aliens, into the lanthorn, and I went in and 
kissed them, demanding it as a fee due to a principall 
officer, with all which we were exceeding merry, and 
drunk some bottles of wine, and neat's tongue, &c. 
Then back again home, and so supped, and after much 
mirth, to bed. 

April io, 1 66 1. 

To the Salutacione tavern, where Mr. Alcock and 
many of the towne come and entertained us with wine 
and oysters and other things, and hither come Sir John 
Minnes to us, who is come to-day from London to see 
u the Henery," in which he intends to ride as Vice- 
Admiral in the narrow seas all this summer. Here 
much mirth, but I was a little troubled to stay too long, 

1 Mr. Pepys had been attending an auction. — E. F. A. 
20 



MR. PEPYS'S AMUSEMENTS 



because of going to Hempson's, which afterwards we did, 
and found it in all things a most pretty house, and 
rarely furnished, only it had a most ill accesse on all 
sides to it, which is a greatest fault that, I think, can be 
in a house. Here we had, for my sake, two fiddles, the 
one a base viall, on which he that played, played well 
some lyra lessons, but both together made the worst 
musique that ever I heard. We had a fine collacion, but 
I took little pleasure in that, for the illness of the musique, 
and for the intentnesse of my mind upon Mrs. Rebecca 
Allen. After we had done eating, the ladies went to 
dance, and among the men we had, I was forced to 
dance, too ; and did make an ugly shift. Mrs. R. Allen 
danced very well, and seems the best humoured woman 
that ever I saw. About nine o'clock Sir William and 
my Lady went home, and we continued dancing an 
houre or two, and so broke up very pleasant and merry, 
and so walked home, I leading Mrs. Rebecca, who 
seemed, I know not why, in that and other things, to be 
desirous of my favours, and would in all things show me 
respects. Going home, she would needs have me sing, 
and I did pretty well, and was highly esteemed by them. 
So to Captain Allen's (where we was last night, and 
heard him play on the harpischon, and I find him to be a 
perfect good musician), and there, having no mind to 
leave Mrs. Rebecca, I did what with talk and singing 
(her father and I), Mrs. Turner and I staid there till 
two o'clock in the morning, and was most exceeding 
merry, and I had the opportunity of kissing Mrs. Rebecca 
very often. 

21 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

April II, 1 66 1. 

At two o'clock, with very great mirth, we went to 
our lodging and to bed, and lay till seven, and then 
called up by Sir W. Batten ; so I rose, and we did 
some business, and then come Captain Allen, and he 
and I withdrew, and sang a song or two, and among 
others, took great pleasure in " Goe and bee hanged, 
that's twice good bye." The young ladies come too, 
and so I did again please myself with Mrs. Rebecca ; 
and about nine o'clock, after we had breakfasted, we 
sett forth for London, and indeed I was a little 
troubled to part with Mrs. Rebecca, for which God 
forgive me. Thus we went away through Rochester. 
We baited at Dartford, and thence to London, but of all 
the journeys that ever I made, this was the merriest, and 
I was in a strange moode for mirth. Among other 
things, I got my Lady to let her mayd, Mrs. Anne, to 
ride all the way on horseback, and she rides exceeding 
well ; and so I called [her] my clerk, that she went 
to wait upon me. I met two little schoolboys going 
with pichers of ale to their schoolmaster to break up 
against Easter, and I did drink of some of one of them, 
and give him two-pence. By and by, we come to two 
little girls keeping cowes, and I saw one of them very 
pretty, so I had a mind to make her aske my blessing, and 
telling her that I was her godfather, she asked me inno- 
cently whether I was not Ned Warding, and I said that 
I was, so she kneeled down, and very simply called, " Pray, 
godfather, pray to God to bless me," which made us 
very merry, and I gave her two-pence. In several places, 

22 



MR. PEPYS'S AMUSEMENTS 



I asked women whether they would sell me their children, 
but they denied me all, but said they would give me one 
to keep for them, if I would. Mrs. Anne and I rode 
under the man that hangs upon Shooter's Hill, and a 
filthy sight it was to see how his flesh is shrunk to his 
bones. So home, and I found all well, and a good deal 
of work done since I went. So to bed very sleepy for 
last night's work, concluding that it is the pleasantest 
journey in all respects that ever I had in my life. 

February 17, 1 661-62. 

This morning, both Sir Williams, myself, and Captain 
Cocke, and Captain Tinker of the Convertine, which we 
are going to look upon, (being intended [to go] with 
these ships fitting for the East Indys) down to Deptford; 
and thence, after being on ship-board, to Woolwich, and 
there eat something. The Sir Williams being unwilling 
to eat flesh, Captain Cock and I had a breast of veale 
roasted. Going and coming, we played at gleeke, 
and I won 9s. 6d. clear, the most that ever I won in 
my life. I pray God it may not tempt me to play 
again. 

June 1, 1663. 

The Duke having been a-hunting to-day, and so lately 
come home and gone to bed, we could not see him, and 
we walked away. And I with Sir J. Minnes to the 
Strand May-pole ; and there light out of his coach, and 
walked to the New Theatre, which, since the King's 
players are gone to the Royal one, is this day begun to 

23 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

be employed by the fencers to play prizes at. And here 
I come and saw the first prize I ever saw in my life : 
and it was between one Mathews, who did beat at all 
weapons, and one Westwicke, who was soundly cut 
several times both in the head and legs, that he was all 
over blood : and other deadly blows they did give and 
take in very good earnest, till Westwicke was in a sad 
pickle. They fought at eight weapons, three boutes at 
each weapon. This being upon a private quarrel, they 
did it in good earnest; and I felt one of their swords, and 
found it to be very little, if at all, blunter on the edge 
than the common swords are. Strange to see what a 
deal of money is flung to them both upon the stage 
between every boute. So, well pleased for once with 
this sight, I walked home. 

December 21, 1663. 

To Shoe Lane, to see a cocke-fighting at a new pit 
there, a spot I was never at in my life : but Lord ! to see 
the strange variety of people, from Parliament man, by 
name Wildes, that was Deputy Governor of the Tower 
when Robinson was Lord Mayor, to the poorest 'pren- 
tices, bakers, brewers, butchers, draymen, and what not ; 
and all these fellows one with another cursing and betting. 
I soon had enough of it. It is strange to see how people 
of this poor rank, that look as if they had not bread to 
put in their mouths, shall bet three or four pounds at 
a time, and lose it, and yet bet as much the next 
battle; so that one of them will lose 10 or ^20 at a 
meeting. 

24 



MR. PEPYS'S AMUSEMENTS 



September 2, 1664. 

To Bartholomew fayre, and our boy with us, and there 
showed them and myself the dancing on the ropes, and 
several other the best shows ; but pretty it is to see how 
our boy carries himself so innocently clownish as would 
make one laugh. Then up and down, to buy combes 
for my wife to give her maids. 

April 13, 1665. 

To Sheriff Waterman's, to dinner, all of us men of the 
office in town, and our wives, my Lady Carteret and 
daughters, and Ladies Batten, Pen, and my wife, &c. 
Very good cheer we had, and merry musique at and after 
dinner, and a fellow danced a jigg ; but, when the com- 
pany begun to dance, I come away, lest I should be taken 
out ; and God knows how my wife carried herself, but I 
left her to try her fortune. 

August 14, 1666. 

After dinner, with my wife and Mercer to the Beare 
Garden ; where I have not been, I think, of many years, 
and saw some good sport of the bull's tossing the dogs — 
one into the very boxes. But it is a very rude and nasty 
pleasure. We had a great many hectors in the same box 
with us, and one very fine went into the pit, and played 
his dog for a wager ; which was a strange sport for a 
gentleman ; where they drank wine, and drank Mercer's 
health first ; which I pledged with my hat off". We 
supped at home, and very merry. And then about nine 
to Mrs. Mercer's gate, where the fire and boys expected 

25 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

us, and her son had provided abundance of serpents and 
rockets; and there mighty merry, my Lady Pen and Pegg 
going thither with us, and Nan Wright, till about twelve 
at night, flinging our fireworks, and burning one another, 
and the people over the way. And, at last, our business 
being most spent, we went into Mrs. Mercer's, and there 
mighty merry, smutting one another with candle grease 
and soot, till most of us were like devils. And that 
being done, then we broke up, and to my house ; and 
there I made them drink, and upstairs we went, and then 
fell into dancing, W. Batelier dancing well ; and dressing, 
him and I, and one Mr. Banister, who, with my wife, 
come over also with us, like women ; and Mercer put on 
a suit of Tom's, like a boy, and mighty mirth we had, 
and Mercer danced a jigg ; and Nan Wright and my 
wife and Pegg Pen put on perriwigs. Thus we spent 
till three or four in the morning, mighty merry ; and 
then parted, and to bed. 

November 9, 1666. 

To Mrs. Pierce's, by appointment, where we find 
good company : a fair lady, my Lady Prettyman, Mrs. 
Corbet, Knipp * ; and for men, Captain Downing, Mr. 
Lloyd, Sir W. Coventry's clerk, and one Mr. Tripp, 
who dances well. After our first bout of dancing, Knipp 
and I to sing, and Mercer and Captain Downing, who 
loves and understands musick, would by all means have 
my song of " Beauty, retire " : which Knipp had spread 

1 Mrs, Knipp was a popular actress in whom Mr. Pepys showed a good 
deal of interest. — E. F. A. 

26 



MR. PEPYS'S AMUSEMENTS 



abroad, and he extols it above any thing he ever heard. 
Going to dance again, and then comes news that White 
Hall was on fire ; and presently more particulars, that the 
Horse-guard was on fire ; and so we run up to the garret, 
and find it so ; a horrid great fire ; and by and by we saw 
and heard part of it blown up with powder. The ladies 
begun presently to be afraid : one fell into fits. The 
whole town in an alarm. Drums beat and trumpets, and 
the Horse-guards every where spread, running up and 
down in the street. And I begun to have mighty appre- 
hensions how things might be, for we are in expectation 
from common fame, this night, or to-morrow, to have a 
massacre, by the having so many fires one after another, 
as that in the City, and at same time begun in West- 
minster, by the Palace, but put out ; and since in South- 
warke, to the burning down some houses ; and now this 
do make all people conclude there is something extra- 
ordinary in it ; but nobody knows what. By and by 
comes news that the fire is slackened ; so then we were 
a little cheered up again, and to supper, and pretty merry. 
But, above all, there comes in the dumb boy that I knew 
in Oliver's time, who is mightily acquainted here, and 
with Downing ; and he made strange signs of the fire, 
and how the King was abroad, and many things they 
understood, but I could not, which I wondered at, and 
discoursing with Downing about it, " Why," says he, " it 
is only a little use, and you will understand him, and 
make him understand you with as much ease as may be." 
So I prayed him to tell him that I was afraid that my 
coach would be gone, and that he should go down and 

27 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

steal one of the seats out of the coach and keep it, and that 
would make the coachman to stay. He did this, so that 
the dumb boy did go down, and, like a cunning rogue, 
went into the coach, pretending to sleep ; and, by and by, 
fell to his work, but finds the seats nailed to the coach. 
So he could not do it ; however, stayed there, and stayed 
the coach till the coachman's patience was quite spent, 
and beat the dumb boy by force, and so went away. So 
the dumb boy came up, and told him all the story, which 
they below did see all that passed, and knew it to be true. 
After supper, another dance or two, and then news that 
the fire is as great as ever, which puts us all to our wits'- 
end ; and I mightily anxious to go home, but the coach 
being gone, and it being about ten at night, and rainy 
dirty weather, I knew not what to do ; but to walk out 
with Mr. Batelier, myself resolving to go home on foot, 
and leave the women there. And so did ; but at the 
Savoy got a coach, and come back and took up the 
women ; and so, having, by people come from the fire, 
understood that the fire was overcome and all well, we 
merrily parted, and home. Stopped by several guards 
and constables quite through the town, round the wall, 
as we went all being in arms. Being come home, we to 
cards, till two in the morning, and drinking lamb's- 
wool. 1 So to bed. 

May 27, 1667. 

Abroad, and stopped at Bear-garden stairs, there to see 

1 Lamb's- wool is a vulgar beverage made of ale, mixed with sugar, nutmeg 
and the pulp of roasted apples, 

28 



MR. PEPYS'S AMUSEMENTS 



a prize fought. But the house so full there was no get- 
ting in there, so forced to go through an ale-house into 
the pit, where the bears are baited ; and upon a stool did 
see them fight, which they did very furiously, a butcher 
and a waterman. The former had the better all along, 
till by and by the latter dropped his sword out of his hand, 
and the butcher, whether not seeing his sword dropped I 
know not, but did give him a cut over the wrist, so as he 
was disabled to fight any longer. But, Lord ! to see how 
in a minute the whole stage was full of watermen to 
revenge the foul play, and the butchers to defend their 
fellow, though most blamed him ; and there they all 
fell to it to knocking down and cutting many on each 
side. It was pleasant to see, but that I stood in the pit, 
and feared that in the tumult I might get some hurt. 
At last the battle broke up, and so I away. 

July 21, 1667. 

(Lord's day.) I and my wife and Mercer up by water 
to Barne Elmes, where we walked by moonshine, and 
called at Lambeth, and drank and had cold meat in the 
boat, and did eat and sang, and down home, by almost 
twelve at night, very fine and pleasant, only could not 
sing ordinary songs with the freedom that otherwise I 
would. Here Mercer tells me that the pretty maid of 
the Ship tavern is married there, which I am glad of. So 
having spent this night, with much serious pleasure 
to consider that I am in condition to fling away an 
angell in such a refreshment to myself and family, we home 
and to bed, leaving Mercer, by the way, at her own door. 

29 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

September 9, 1667. 

To the Bear-Garden, where now the yard was full of 
people, and those most of them seamen, striving by force 
to get in, that I was afraid to be seen among them, 
but got into the ale-house, and so by a back way was put 
into the bull-house, where I stood a good while all alone 
among the bulls, and was afraid I was among the bears, 
too ; but by and by the door opened. I got into the 
common pit ; and there, with my cloak about my face, I 
stood and saw the prize fought, till one of them, a shoe- 
maker, was so cut in both his wrists that he could not 
fight any longer, and then they broke off: his enemy 
was a butcher. The sport very good, and various 
humours to be seen among the rabble that is there. 



3° 



MR. PEPYS ON ART 



MR. PEPYS ON ART 

October 9, 1 660. 

This morning Sir W. Batten with Colonel Birch to 
Deptford to pay off two ships. Sir W. Pen and I staid 
to do business, and afterwards together to White Hall, 
where I went to my Lord, and saw in his chamber his 
picture, very well done ; and am with child till I 
get it copied out, which I hope to do when he is 
gone to sea. 

October 22, 1660. 

All preparing for my Lord's going to sea to fetch the 
Queen to-morrow. At night my Lord come home, 
with whom I staid long, and talked of many things. 
I got leave to have his picture, that was done by Lilly, 
copied. He told me there hath been a meeting before 
the King and my Lord Chancellor, of some Episcopalian 
and Presbyterian Divines ; but what had passed he 
could not tell me. 

November 7, 1666. 

Called at Faythorn's, to buy some prints for my wife 
3 1 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

to draw by this winter, and here did see my Lady 
Castlemaine's picture, done by him from Lilly's, in red 
chalke and other colours, by which he hath cut it in 
copper to be printed. The picture in chalke is the 
finest thing I ever saw in my life, I think ; and I did 
desire to buy it ; but he says he must keep it awhile to 
correct his copper-plate by, and, when that is done, he 
will sell it me. 

April 26, 1667. 

While I was waiting in the matted Gallery, a young 
man was working in Indian inke the great picture of 
the King and Queen sitting, by Van Dyke ; and did it 
very finely. 

February 10, 1668-69. 

To White Hall, where the Duke of York was gone 
a-hunting ; and so to the plaisterer's at Charing Cross, 
that casts heads and bodies in plaister : and there I had 
my whole face done ; but I was vexed first to be forced 
to daub all my face over with pomatum : but it was 
pretty to feel how soft and easily it is done on the face, 
and by and by, by degrees, how hard it becomes, that 
you cannot break it, and sits so close, that you cannot 
pull it off, and yet so easy, that it is as soft as a pillow, 
so safe is everything where many parts of the body do 
bear alike. Thus was the mould made ; but when it 
came off there was little pleasure in it, as it looks in the 
mould, nor any resemblance whatever there will be in 
the figure, when I come to see it cast off. 

3 2 



MR. PEPYS ON BOOKS AND READING 



MR. PEPYS ON BOOKS AND READING 

August 1 8, 1 66 1. 

At night fell to read in " Hooker's Ecclesiastical 
Polity," which Mr. Moore did give me last Wednesday 
very handsomely bound ; and which I shall read with 
great pains and love for his sake. 

June 13, 1662. 

Up by 4 o'clock in the morning, and read Cicero's 
Second Oration against Catiline, which pleased me 
exceedingly ; and more I discern therein than ever I 
thought was to be found in him ; but I perceive it was 
my ignorance, and that he is as good a writer as ever I 
read in my life. 

December 22, 1662. 

Home, and presently shifted myself, and so had the 
barber come ; and my wife and I to read " Ovid's Meta- 
morphoses," which I brought her home from Paul's 
Churchyard to-night. 

December 26, 1662. 

To the Wardrobe. Hither come Mr. Battersby ; 
and we falling into discourse of a new book of drollery in 

33 d 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

use, called Hud&bras, I would needs go find it out, and 
met with it at the Temple : cost me 2s. 6d. But when 
I come to read it, it is so silly an abuse of the Presbyter 
Knight going to the wars, that I am ashamed of it ; and 
by and by meeting at Mr. Townsend's at dinner, I sold 
it to him for i8d. 

February 6, 1662-63. 

To a bookseller's in the Strand, and there bought 
Hudibras again, it being certainly some ill-humour to 
be so against that which all the world cries up to be the 
example of wit ; for which I am resolved once more to 
read him, and see whether I can find it or no. 

December 10, 1 663. 

To St. Paul's Church Yard, to my bookseller's, and, 
having gained this day in the office by my stationer's 
bill to the King about 40s. or ^3, calling for twenty 
books to lay this money out upon, and found myself at 
a great loss where to choose, and do see how my nature 
would gladly return to the laying out of money in this 
trade. Could not tell whether to lay out my money for 
books of pleasure, as plays, which my nature was most 
earnest in ; but at last, after seeing Chaucer, Dugdale's 
History of Paul's, Stow's London, Gesner, History of 
Trent, besides Shakespeare, Jonson, and Beaumont's 
plays, I at last choose Dr. Fuller's Worthys, the Cabbala, 
or Collections of Letters of State, and a little book, 
" Delices de Hollande," with another little book or two, 
all of good use or serious pleasure ; and Hudibras, both 

34 



MR. PEPYS ON BOOKS AND READING 

parts, the book now in greatest fashion for drollery, 
though I cannot, I confess, see enough where the wit 
lies. My mind being thus settled, I went by link home, 
and so to my office, and to read in Rushworth ; and so 
home to supper and to bed. Calling at Wotton's, my 
shoemaker's, to-day, he tells me that Sir H. Wright 
is dying ; and that Harris is come to the Duke's house 
again ; and of a rare play to be acted this week of Sir 
William Davenant's : the story of Henry the Eighth, 
with all his wives. 

January 27, 1663-64. 

At the Coffee-house, where I sat with Sir G. Ascue 
and William Petty, who in discourse is, methinks, one of 
the most rational men that ever I heard speak with a 
tongue, having all his notions the most distinct and clear, 
and did, among other things (saying, that in all his life 
these three books were the most esteemed and generally 
cried up for wit in the world — " Religio Medici," 
Osborne's "Advice to a Son," and "Hudibras"), say 
that in these — the two first principally — the wit lies, and 
confirming some pretty sayings, which are generally like 
paradoxes, by some argument smartly and pleasantly 
urged, which takes with people who do not trouble 
themselves to examine the force of an argument, which 
pleases them in the delivery, upon a subject which they 
like ; whereas, as by many particular instances of mine, 
and others, out of Osborne, he did really find fault and 
weaken the strength of many of Osborne's arguments, 
so as that in downright disputation they would not bear 

35 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

weight — at least, so far but that they might be weakened, 
and better found in their rooms to confirm what is there 
said. He shewed finely whence it happens that good 
writers are not admired by the present age ; because 
there are but few in any age that do mind any thing 
that is abstruse and curious ; and so longer before any 
body do put the true praise, and set it on foot in the 
world, the generality of mankind pleasing themselves in 
the easy delights of the world, as eating, drinking, 
dancing, hunting, fencing, which we see the meanest 
men do the best — those that profess it. A gentleman 
never dances so well as the dancing-master ; and an 
ordinary fiddler makes better musick for a shilling than a 
gentleman will do after spending forty. And so in all the 
delights of the world almost. 

January 30, 1663-64. 

This evening I tore some old papers ; among others, a 
romance which, under the title of " Love a Cheate," I 
begun ten years ago at Cambridge : and, reading it over 
to-night, I liked it very well, and wondered a little at 
myself, at my vein at that time when I wrote it, doubting 
that I cannot do so well now if I would try. 

September 25, 1664. 

(Lord's day.) My throat being yet very sore, and 
my head out of order, went not to church, but spent all 
the morning reading of "The Madd Lovers," a very 
good play. Read another play, " The Custome of the 
Country," which is a very poor one, methinks. 

36 



MR. PEPYS ON BOOKS AND READING 

January 18, 1664-65. 

To my bookseller's, and there did give thorough 
direction for the new binding of a great many of my 
old books, to make my whole study of the same binding, 
within very few. 

May 14, 1665. 

I all the afternoon in the coach, reading the 
treasonous book of the Court of King James, printed 
a great while ago, and worth reading, though ill 
intended. 

January 27, 1666-67. 

(Lord's day). To Sir Philip Warwick, by appoint- 
ment, to meet Lord Bellassis, and up to his chamber, 
but find him unwilling to discourse of business on 
Sundays : so did not enlarge. Went down and sat in 
a low room, reading " Erasmus de Scribendis Epistolis," 
a very good book, especially one letter of advice to a 
courtier most true and good, which made me once 
resolve to tear out the two leaves that it was writ in, 
but I forbore it. 

February 2, 1666-67. 

This night comes home my new silver snuffe- 
dish, which I do give myself for my closet. I am 
very well pleased this night with reading a poem I 
brought home with me last night from Westminster 
Hall, of Dryden's, upon the present war ; a very good 
poem. 

37 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

April 8, 1667. 

Away to the Temple, to my new bookseller's ; and 
there I did agree for Rycaut's late History of the Turkish 
Policy, which cost me 55s. ; whereas it was sold plain 
before the late fire for 8s., and bound and coloured as this 
is, for 20s.; for I have bought it finely bound and truly 
coloured, all the figures, of which there was but six 
books done so, whereof the King and Duke of York, 
and Duke of Monmouth, and Lord Arlington, had four. 
The fifth was sold, and I have bought the sixth. 

April 15, 1667. 

To my new bookseller's, and there bought " Hooker's 
Polity," the new edition, and " Dugdale's History of the 
Inns of Court," of which there was but a few saved out 
of the fire, and Playford's new Catch-book, that hath a 
great many new fooleries in it. 

May 26, 1667. 

I away to my boat, and up with it as far as Barne 
Elmes, reading of Mr. Evelyn's late new book against 
Solitude, 1 in which I do not find much excess of good 
matter, though it be pretty for a bye discourse. 

July 24, 1667. 

About five o'clock down to Gravesend, all the way 
with extraordinary content reading of Boyle's Hydro- 

1 "15th February, 1666-7. My little book in answer to Sir George 
Mackenzie was now published, entitled * Public Employment and an active 
life, with its Appenages, preferred to Solitude.'" — Evelyn's Diary. 

38 



MR. PEPYS ON BOOKS AND READING 

statickes, which the more I read and understand, the 
more I admire, as a most excellent piece of philosophy. 

January 10, 1667-680 

To my new bookseller's, Martin's ; and there did 
meet with Fournier, the Frenchman, that hath wrote 
of the Sea Navigation, and I could not but buy him, 
and also bespoke an excellent book, which I met with 
there, of China. The truth is, I have bought a great 
many books lately to a great value ; but I think to buy 
no more till Christmas next, and those that I have will 
so fill my two presses, that I must be forced to give 
away some, or make room for them, it being my design 
to have no more at any time for my proper library than 
to fill them. 

February 2, 1667-68. 

(Lord's day.) All the morning setting my books in order 
in my presses, for the following year, their number being 
much increased since the last, so as I am fain to lay by 
several books to make room for better, being resolved to 
keep no more than just my presses will contain. 

February 8, 1667-68. 

To the Strand, to my bookseller's, and there bought 
an idle, rogueish French book, which I have bought 
in plain binding, avoiding the buying of it better bound, 
because I resolve, as soon as I have read it, to burn it, 
that it may not stand in the list of books, nor among 
them, to disgrace them if it should be found. 

39 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

February 15, 1667-68. 

Till midnight almost, and till I had tired my own 
backe, and my wife's, and Deb's, in titleing of my books 
for the present year, and in setting them in order, which 
is now done, to my very good satisfaction, though not 
altogether so completely as I think they were the last year. 

February 18, 1667-68. 

I well remember what, in mirth, he [Sir William Coven- 
try] said to me this morning, when upon this discourse 
he said, if ever there was another Dutch war, they should 
not find a Secretary ; " Nor," said I, " a Clerk of the 
Acts, for I see the reward of it ; and, thank God ! I 
have enough of my own to buy me a good book and a good 
fiddle, and I have a good wife;" — "Why," says he, "I 
have enough to buy me a good book, and shall not need 
a fiddle, because I have never a one of your good wives." 

March 18, 1668. 

Home, and there, in favour to my eyes, staid at home, 
reading the ridiculous History of my Lord Newcastle, 
wrote by his wife, which shows her to be a mad, 
conceited, ridiculous woman, and he an asse to suffer 
her to write what she writes to him, and of him. So 
to bed, my eyes being very bad ; and I know not how 
in the world to abstain from reading. 

October 12, 1668. 

Read a ridiculous nonsensical book set out by Will. 
Pen for the Quakers ; but so full of nothing but 
nonsense, that I was ashamed to read in it. 

40 



MR. PEPYS AS A MAN OF AFFAIRS 



MR. PEPYS AS A MAN OF AFFAIRS 

May 19, 1663. 

With Sir John Minnes to the Tower ; and by Mr. 
Slingsby, and Mr. Howard, Comptroller of the Mint, we 
were shown the method of making this new money. 
That being done, the Comptroller would have us dine 
with him and his company, the King giving them a 
dinner every day. And very merry and good discourse 
upon the business we have been upon, and after dinner 
went to the Assay Office, and there saw the manner of 
assaying of gold and silver, and how silver melted down 
with gold do part, [upon] just being put into aqua-fortis, 
the silver turning into water, and the gold lying whole, 
in the very form it was put in, mixed of gold and silver, 
which is a miracle ; and to see no silver at all, but 
turned into water which they can bring again into itself 
out of the water : and at table they told us of two 
cheats, the best I ever heard. One of a labourer dis- 
covered to convey away bits of silver cut out for pence 
by swallowing them, and so they could not find him 
out, though, of course, they searched all the labourers : 
but, having reason to doubt him, they did, by threats 
and promises, get him to confess, and did find £y of it 

4 1 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

in his house at one time. The other of one that got a 
way of coyning as good and passable, and large as the 
true money is, and yet saved fifty per cent, to himself, 
which was by getting moulds made to stamp groats like 
old groats, which is done so well, and I did beg two of 
them, which I keep for rarities, that there is not better 
in the world, and is as good and better than those that 
commonly go, which was the only thing that they 
could find out to doubt them by, besides the number 
that the party do go to put off, and then, coming to the 
Controller of the Mint, he could not, I say, find out 
any other thing to raise any doubt upon, but only their 
being so truly round or near it. He was neither hanged 
nor burned ; the cheat was thought so ingenious, and 
being the first time they could ever trap him in it, and 
so little hurt to any man in it, the money being as good 
as commonly goes. They now coyne between 16 and 
24,000 pounds in a week. 

September 10, 1663. 

All the morning making a great contract with Sir W. 
Warren, for ^3,000 worth of masts, but, good God ! to 
see what a man might do, were I a knave. Mr. Moore 
tells me of the good peace that is made at Tangier with 
the Moores, but to continue but from six months to six 
months. 

September 24, 1666. 

To Sir G. Carteret, to speak a little about the altera- 
tion ; and there, looking over the book Sir G. Carteret 

42 



MR. PEPYS AS A MAN OF AFFAIRS 

intends to deliver to the Parliament of his payments 
since September 1st, 1664, I find my name the very 
second for flags, which I had bought for the Navy, ot 
calico, once, about 500 and odd pounds, which vexed me 
mightily. At last, I concluded of scraping out my 
name, and putting in Mr. Tooker's, which eased me ; 
though the price was such as I should have had glory by. 
Here I saw my Lady Carteret lately come to town, who, 
good lady ! is mighty kind, and I must make much of her. 

November 17, 1666.. 

In the afternoon shut myself up in my chamber, and 
there till twelve at night finishing my great letter to the 
Duke of York, which do lay the ill condition of the 
Navy so open to him, that it is impossible if the King 
and he minds anything of their business, but it will 
operate upon them to set all matters right, and get 
money to carry on the war, before it be too late, or else 
lay out for a peace upon any termes* It was a great 
convenience to-night that what I had writ foule in short- 
hand, I could read it to W. Hewer, and he take it fair in 
short-hand, so as I can read it to-morrow to Sir W. 
Coventry, and then come home, and Hewer read it to 
me while I take it in long-hand to present, which saves 
me much time. 

March 1, 1668. 

(Lord's day.) Up very betimes, and by coach to 
Sir W. Coventry's ; and there, largely carrying with me 
all my notes and papers, did run over our whole defence 

43 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

in the business of tickets, in order to the answering the 
House on Thursday next ; and I do think, unless they 
be set without reason to ruin us, we shall make a good 
defence. I find him in great anxiety, though he will 
not discover it, in the business of the proceedings of 
Parliament ; and would as little as is possible have his 
name mentioned in our discourse to them ; and 
particularly the business of selling places is now upon 
his hand to defend himself in ; wherein I did help him 
in his defence about the flag-maker's place, which is 
named in the House. We did here do the like about 
the complaint of want of victuals in the fleete in 
the year 1666, which will lie upon me to defend also. 
In lieu of a coach this year, I have got my wife to be 
contented with her closet being made up this summer, 
and going into the country this summer for a month 
or two, to my father's, and there Mercer and Deb 
and Jane shall go with her, which I the rather do for 
the entertaining my wife, and preventing of fallings out 
between her and my father or Deb. To Mrs. Martin's, 
and here I was mightily taken with a starling which she 
hath, that was the King's, which he kept in his bed- 
chamber ; and do whistle and talk the most and best 
that ever I heard anything in my life. Spent the evening 
talking with W. Hewer about business of the House, and 
declaring my expectation of all our being turned out. 

March 2, 1668. 

Mr. Moore was with me, and do tell me, and so W. 
Hewer tells me, he hears this morning that all the town 

44 



MR. PEPYS AS A MAN OF AFFAIRS 

is full of the discourse that the Officers of the 
Navy shall be all turned out, but honest Sir John 
Minnes, who, God knows, is fitter to have been 
turned out himself than any of us, doing the King more 
hurt by his dotage and folly than all the rest can do by 
their knavery, if they had a mind to it. 

March 3, 1668. 

Up betimes to work again, and then met at the 
Office, where to our great business of this answer to the 
Parliament ; where to my great vexation I find my 
Lord Brouncker prepared only to excuse himself, while 
I, that have least reason to trouble myself, am preparing 
with great pains to defend them all : and more, I 
perceive, he would lodge the beginning of discharging 
ships by ticket upon me : but I care not, for I believe 
I shall get more honour by it when the Parliament, 
against my will, shall see how the whole business of the 
Office was done by me. 1 with my clerks to dinner, 
and thence presently down with Lord Brouncker, W. 
Pen, T. Harvy, T. Middleton, and Mr. Tippets, who 
first took his place this day at the table, as a Com- 
missioner, in the room of Commissioner Pett. Down 
by water to Deptford, where the King, Queen, and 
Court are to see launched the new ship built by Mr. 
Shish, called " The Charles." God send her better luck 
than the former ! Here some of our brethren, who 
went in a boat a little before my boat, did by appoint- 
ment take opportunity of asking the King's leave that 
we might make full use of the want of money, in our 

45 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

excuse to the Parliament for the business of tickets, and 
other things they will lay to our charge, all which arise 
from nothing else : and this the King did readily agree 
to, and did give us leave to make our full use of it. 
The ship being well launched, I back again by boat. 

March 4, 1668. 

Vexed and sickish to bed, and there slept about three 
hours, but then waked, and never in so much trouble in 
all my life of mind, thinking of the task I have upon me, 
and upon what dissatisfactory grounds, and what the 
issue of it may be to me. 

March 5, 1668. 

With these thoughts I lay troubling myself till six 
o'clock, restless, and at last getting my wife to talk to 
me to comfort me, which she at last did, and made me 
resolve to quit my hands of this Office, and endure the 
trouble no longer than till I can clear myself of it. So 
with great trouble, but yet with some ease, from this 
discourse with my wife, I up, and at my Office, whither 
come my clerks, and so I did huddle the best I could 
some more notes for my discourse to-day, and by nine 
o'clock was ready, and did go down to the Old Swan, 
and there by boat, with T. Harvey and W. Hewer with 
me, to Westminster, where I found myself come time 
enough, and my brethren all ready. But I full of 
thoughts and trouble touching the issue of this day ; 
and, to comfort myself, did go to the Dog and drink 
half a pint of mulled sack, and in the Hall [Westminster] 

46 



MR. PEPYS AS A MAN OF AFFAIRS 

did drink a dram of brandy at Mrs. Hewlett's ; and with 
the warmth of this did find myself in better order as to 
courage, truly. So we all up to the lobby ; and, between 
eleven or twelve o'clock, were called in, with the mace 
before us, into the House, where a mighty full House : 
and we stood at the bar, namely, Brouncker, Sir J. 
Minnes, Sir T. Harvey, and myself, W. Pen being 
in the House, as a Member. I perceive the whole 
House was full of expectation of our defence what it 
would be, and with great prejudice. After the Speaker 
had told us the dissatisfaction of the House, and read the 
Report of the Committee, I began our defence most 
acceptably and smoothly, and continued at it without 
any hesitation or losse, but with full scope, and all my 
reason free about me, as if it had been at my own table, 
from that time till passed three in the afternoon ; and so 
ended, without any interruption from the Speaker ; but 
we withdrew. And there all my Fellow-Officers, and all 
the world that was within hearing, did congratulate me, 
and cry up my speech as the best thing they ever heard ; 
and my Fellow-Officers were overjoyed in it ; and we 
were called in again by and by to answer only one 
question, touching our paying tickets to ticket-mongers ; 
and so out ; and we were in hopes to have had a vote 
this day in our favour, and so the generality of the 
House was ; but my speech, being so long, many had 
gone out to dinner and come in again half-drunk ; and 
then there are two or three that are professed enemies to 
us and every body else ; among others, Sir T. Littleton, 
Sir Thomas Lee, Mr. Wiles, the coxcomb whom I 

47 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

saw heretofore at the cock-fighting, and a few others ; 
I say, these did rise up and speak against the coming to 
a vote now, the House not being full, by reason of several 
being at dinner, but most because that the House was to 
attend the King this afternoon, about the business of 
religion, wherein they pray him to put in force all the 
laws against Nonconformists and Papists ; and this pre- 
vented it, so that they put it off to to-morrow come 
se'nnight. However, it is plain we have got great 
ground, and every body says I have got the most 
honour that any could have had opportunity of getting; 
and so our hearts mightily overjoyed at this success. We 
all to dinner to my Lord Brouncker's — that is to say, 
myself, T. Harvey, and W. Pen, and there dined ; and 
thence with Sir Anthony Morgan, who is an acquaint- 
ance of Brouncker's, a very wise man, we after dinner 
to the King's house, and there saw part of " The 
Discontented Colonel." To my wife, whom W. Hewer 
had told of my success, and she overjoyed ; and, after 
talking awhile, I betimes to bed, having had no quiet 
rest a good while. 

March 6, 1668. 

Up betimes, and with Sir D. Gauden to Sir W. 
Coventry's chamber : where the first word he said to 
me was, " Good-morrow, Mr. Pepys, that must be 
Speaker of the Parliament-house : " and did protest I 
had got honour for ever in Parliament. He said that 
his brother, that sat by him, admires me ; and another 
gentleman said that I could not get less than ^1,000 

48 



MR. PEPYS AS A MAN OF AFFAIRS 

a-year, if I would put on a gown and plead at the 
Chancery-bar ; but, what pleases me most, he tells me 
that the Solicitor-General did protest that he thought 
I spoke the best of any man in England. After several 
talks with him alone touching his own businesses, he 
carried me to White Hall, and there parted ; and I to 
the Duke of York's lodgings, and find him going to the 
Park, it being a very fine morning, and I after him ; and, 
as soon as he saw me, he told me, with great satisfaction, 
that I had converted a great many yesterday, and did, 
with great praise of me, go on with the discourse with 
me. And, by and by, overtaking the King, the King 
and Duke of York came to me both ; and he [the King] 
said, " Mr. Pepys, I am very glad of your success yester- 
day ; " and fell to talk of my well speaking ; and many 
of the Lords there. My Lord Barkeley did cry me up 
for what they had heard of it ; and others, Parliament- 
men there, about the King, did say that they never 
heard such a speech in their lives delivered in that 
manner. Progers, of the Bedchamber, swore to me 
afterwards before Brouncker, in the afternoon, that he 
did tell the King that he thought I might match the 
Solicitor-General. Every body that saw me almost came 
to me, as Joseph Williamson and others, with such 
eulogys as cannot be expressed. From thence I went to 
Westminster Hall, where I met Mr. G. Montagu, who 
came to me and kissed me, and told me that he had 
often heretofore kissed my hands, but now he would kiss 
my lips : protesting that I was another Cicero, and said, 
all the world said the same of me. Mr. Ashburnham, 

49 E 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

and every creature I met there of the Parliament, or 
that knew an}' thing of the Parliament's actings, did 
salute me with this honour : — Mr. Godolphin ; — Mr. 
Sands, who swore he would go twenty miles, at any 
time, to hear the like again, and that he never saw so 
many sit four hours together to hear any man in his 
life as there did to hear me. Mr. Chichly, — Sir John 
Duncomb, — and every body do say that the kingdom 
will ring of my abilities, and that I have done myself 
right for my whole life : and so Captain Cocke, and 
others of my friends, say that no man had ever such an 
opportunity of making his abilities known ; and, that I 
may cite all at once, Mr. Lieutenant of the Tower did 
tell me that Mr. Vaughan did protest to him, and that, 
in his hearing, he said so to the Duke of Albemarle, and 
afterwards to Sir W. Coventry, that he had sat twenty- 
six years in Parliament, and never heard such a speech 
there before : for which the Lord God make me 
thankful ! and that I may make use of it, not to pride 
and vain-glory, but that, now I have this esteem, I may 
do nothing that may lessen it ! I spent the morning 
thus walking in the Hall, being complimented by every- 
body with admiration : and at noon stepped into the 
Legg with Sir William Warren, who was in the Hall, 
and there talked about a little of his business, and thence 
into the Hall a little more, and so with him by coach as 
far as the Temple almost, and there 'light, to follow my 
Lord Brouncker's coach, which I spied, and so to Madam 
Williams's, where I overtook him, and agreed upon 
meeting this afternoon. To White Hall, to wait on 

50 



MR. PEPYS AS A MAN OF AFFAIRS 

the Duke of York, where he again, and all the company 
magnified me, and several in the Gallery : among others, 
my Lord Gerard, who never knew me before, nor spoke 
to me, desires his being better acquainted with me ; and 
[said] that, at table where he was, he never heard so 
much said of any man as of me, in his whole life. So 
waited on the Duke of York, and thence into the 
Gallery, where the House of Lords waited the King's 
coming out of the Park, which he did by and by ; and 
there, in the Vane-Roome, my Lord Keeper delivered 
a Message to the King, the Lords being about him, 
wherein the Barons of England, from many good 
arguments very well expressed in the part he read out 
of, do demand precedence in England of all noblemen 
of either of the King's other two Kingdoms, be their 
title what it will ; and did show that they were in 
England reputed but as Commoners, and sat in the 
House of Commons and at conferences with the Lords 
did stand bare. It was mighty worth my hearing : but 
the King did say only that he would consider of it, and 
so dismissed them. 1 Thence, with the Lieutenant of 
the Tower, in his coach home ; and there, with great 
pleasure, with my wife, talking and playing at cards 
a little — she, and I, and W. Hewer, and Deb. 

March 8, 1668. 

(Lord's day.) To White Hall, where met with very 

1 The point of precedence was settled by the Act of Union. They 
have rank next after the peers of the like degree in England at the time of 
the Union. 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

many people still that did congratulate my speech the 
other day in the House of Commons, and I find all the 
world almost rings of it. With Sir W. Coventry, who 
I find full of care in his own business, how to defend 
himself against those that have a mind to choke him ; 
and though, I believe, not for honour and for the keeping 
his employment, but, for safety and reputation's sake, is 
desirous to preserve himself free from blame. He desires 
me to get information against Captain Tatnell, thereby 
to diminish his testimony, who, it seems, hath a mind to 
do W. Coventry hurt : and I will do it with all my 
heart ; for Tatnell is a very rogue. He would be glad, 
too, that I could find anything proper for his taking 
notice against Sir F. Hollis. To dinner with Sir G. 
Carteret to Lincoln's Inn Fields, where I find mighty 
deal of company — a solemn day for some of his and her 
friends, and dine in the great dining-room above stairs, 
where Sir G. Carteret himself, and I, and his son, at a 
little table, the great table being full of strangers. Here 
my Lady Jem. do promise to come, and bring my Lord 
Hinchingbroke and his lady some day this week, to 
dinner to me, which I am glad of. After dinner, I up 
with her husband, Sir Philip Carteret, to his closet, 
where, beyond expectation, I do find many pretty things, 
wherein he appears to be ingenious, such as in painting, 
and drawing, and making of watches, and such kind of 
things above my expectation ; though, when all is done, 
he is a sneake, who owns his owing me ^10 for his 
lady two or three years ago, and yet cannot provide to 
pay me. 

5 2 



MR. PEPYS AS A MAN OF AFFAIRS 

March 9, 1668. 

By coach to White Hall, and there met Lord 
Brouncker : and he and I to the Commissioners of the 
Treasury, where I find them mighty kind to me, more, 
I think, than was wont. And here I also met Colvill, 
the goldsmith ; who tells me, with great joy, how the 
world upon the 'Change talks of me ; and how several 
Parliament-men, viz., Boscawen and Major [Lionel] 
Walden, of Huntingdon, who, it seems, do deal with 
him, do say how bravely I did speak, and that the House 
was ready to have given me thanks for it : but that, 
I think, is a vanity. 

March 10, 1668. 

Met Sir R. Brookes, who do mightily cry up my 
speech the other day, saying my Fellow-Officers are 
obliged to me, as indeed they are. With Sir D. Gauden 
homewards, calling at Lincolne's Inn Fields ; but my 
Lady Jemimah was not within : and so to Newgate, 
where he stopped to give directions to the jaylor about 
a Knight, one Sir Thomas Halford, brought in yesterday 
for killing one Colonel Temple, falling out at a taverne. 
Home ; and there comes Mr. Moore to me, who tells 
me that he fears my Lord Sandwich will meet with 
very great difficulties to go through about the prizes, it 
being found that he did give orders for more than the 
King's letter do justify ; and then for the Act of 
Resumption, which he fears will go on, and is designed 
only to do him hurt, which troubles me much. He tells 
me he believes the Parliament will not be brought to do 

53 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

any thing in matters of religion, but will adhere to the 
Bishops. To supper, where I find W. Joyce and 
Harman come to see us, and there was also Mrs. Mercer 
and her two daughters, and here we were as merry as 
that fellow Joyce could make us with his mad talking, 
after the old wont, which tired me. But I was mightily 
pleased with his singing ; for the rogue hath a very good 
eare and a good voice. Here he stayed till he was almost 
drunk, and then away at about ten at night, and then all 
broke up. 

March II, 1668. 

Meeting Mr. Colvill, I walked with him to his 
building, where he is building a fine house, where he 
formerly lived, in Lumbard Street : and it will be a very 
fine street. So to Westminster ; and there walked, till 
by and by comes Sir W. Coventry, and with him Mr. 
Chichly and Mr. Andrew Newport. I to dinner with 
them to Mr. Chichly's, in Queene-street, in Covent 
Garden. A very fine house, and a man that lives in 
mighty great fashion, with all things in a most extra- 
ordinary manner noble and rich about him, and eats in 
the French fashion all ; and mighty nobly served with 
his servants, and very civilly ; that I was mightily 
pleased with it : and good discourse. He is a great 
defender of the Church of England, and against the Act 
for Comprehension, which is the work of this day, about 
which the House is like to sit till night. After dinner 
with them to Westminster. About four o'clock, the 
House rises, and hath put off the debate to this day 

54 



MR. PEPYS AS A MAN OF AFFAIRS 

month. In the mean time, the King hath put out 
his proclamations this day, as the House desired, for the 
putting in execution the Act against nonconformists and 
papists. Here I met with Roger Pepys, who is come 
to town, and hath been told of my performance before 
the House the other day, and is mighty proud of it. 
Captain Cocke met me here, and told me that the 
Speaker says he never heard such a defence made, in all 
his life, in the House, and that the Solicitor-General do 
commend me even to envy. I carried cozen Roger as 
far as the Strand, where, spying out of the coach Colonel 
Charles George Cocke, formerly a very great man, and 
my father's customer, whom I have carried clothes to, 
but now walks like a poor sorry sneake, he stopped, and 
'light to him. This man knew me, which I would have 
willingly avoided, so much pride I had, he being a man 
of mighty heighth and authority in his time, but now 
signifies nothing. 

March 12, 1668. 

To Gresham College, there to show myself ; and was 
there greeted by Dr. Wilkins, Whistler, and others, as 
the patron of the Navy Office, and one that got great 
fame by my late speech to the Parliament. Then home 
to supper, and to talk with Mr. Pelling, who tells me 
what a fame I have in the City by my late performance ; 
and upon the whole I bless God for it. I think I have, 
if I can keep it, done myself a great deal of repute. So 
by and by to bed. 



55 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 



MR. PEPYS'S DEVOTIONS 

July 8, 1660. 

(Lord's day.) To White Hall chapel, where I got in 
with ease by going before the Lord Chancellor with Mr. 
Kipps. Here I heard very good musique, the first time 
that ever I remember to have heard the organs and 
singing-men in surplices in my life. The Bishop of 
Chichester preached before the King, and made a great 
flattering sermon, which I did not like that the Clergy 
should meddle with matters of State. Dined with Mr. 
Luellin and Salisbury at a cook's shop. 

September 23, 1660. 

(Lord's day.) Come one from my father's with a black 
cloth coat, made of my short cloak, to walk up and down 
in. To the Abbey, where I expected to hear Mr. Baxter 
or Mr. Rowe preach their farewell sermon, and in Mr. 
Symons's pew I heard Mr. Rowe. Before sermon I 
laughed at the reader, who in his prayer desires of God 
that He would imprint His word on the thumbs of our 
right hands, and on the right great toes of our right feet. 
In the midst of the sermon, some plaster fell from the top 

56 



MR. PEPYS'S DEVOTIONS 



of the Abbey, that made me and all the rest in our pew- 
afraid, and I wished myself out. 

October 14, 1660. 

(Lord's day.) To White Hall chapel, where one Dr. 
Crofts made an indifferent sermon, and after it an anthem, 
ill-sung, which made the King laugh. Here I first did 
see the Princess Royal since she came into England. 
Here I also observed, how the Duke of York and Mrs. 
Palmer did talk to one another very wantonly through 
the hangings that parts the King's closet where the 
ladies sit. 

January 30, 1 660-61. 

(Fast day.) The first time that this day hath been yet 
observed : and Mr. Mills made a most excellent sermon 
upon " Lord forgive us our former iniquities ; " speaking 
excellently of the justice of God in punishing men for 
the sins of their ancestors. 

February 17, 1660—61. 

(Lord's day.) A most tedious, unreasonable, and im- 
pertinent sermon, by an Irish doctor. His text was, 
" Scatter them, O Lord, that delight in warr." Sir W. 
Batten and I very much angry with the parson. 

March 31, 1661. 

(Sunday.) At church, where a stranger preached like a 
fool. Dined with my wife, staying at home, she being 
unwilling to dress herself, the house being all dirty. 

57 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

May 12, 1661. 

(Lord's day.) At the Savoy heard Dr. Fuller preach 
upon David's words, " I will wait with patience all the 
days of my appointed time until my change comes ; " but 
methought it was a poor, dry sermon. And I am afraid 
my former high esteem of his preaching was more out of 
opinion than judgment. 

August 4, 1 66 1. 

To church, and had a good plain sermon. At our 
coming in, the country-people all rose with so much 
reverence; and when the parson begins, he begins "Right 
Worshipfull and dearly beloved " to us. To church 
again, and, after supper, to talk about publique matters, 
wherein Roger Pepys told me how basely things have 
been carried in Parliament by the young men, that did 
labour to oppose all things that were moved by serious 
men. That they are the most prophane swearing fellows 
that ever he heard in his life, which makes him think that 
they will spoil all, and bring things into a warr again, if 
they can. 

November 17, 1661. 

(Lord's day.) To our own church, and at noon, by 
invitation, Sir W. Pen dined with me, and I took Mrs. 
Hester, my Lady Batten's kinswoman, to dinner from 
church with me, and we were very merry. To church ; and 
heard a simple fellow upon the praise of church musique, 
and exclaiming against men's wearing their hats on in the 
church. To church [again], but slept part of the sermon. 

58 



MR. PEPYS'S DEVOTIONS 



January 5, 1661—62. 

To church, and before sermon, there was a long psalm, 
and half another sung out, while the Sexton gathered 
what the church would give him for this last half year, I 
gave him 3s., and have the last week given the Clerke 
2s., which I set down, that I may know what to do the 
next year, if it please the Lord that I live so long ; but 
the jest was, the Clerk begins the 25th psalm, which 
hath a proper tune to it, and then the Ii6th, which 
cannot be sung with that tune, which seemed very 
ridiculous. 

March 7, 1662. 

Early to White Hall, to the chapel, where by Mr. 
Blagrave's means I got into his pew, and heard Dr. 
Creeton, the great Scotchman, and chaplain in ordinary 
to the King, preach before the King, and Duke and 
Duchess, upon the words of Micah : — " Roule yourself 
in dust." He made a most learned sermon upon 
the words : but, in his application, the most comical 
man that ever I heard in my life. Just such a man 
as Hugh Peters ; saying that it had been better for the 
poor Cavalier never to have come with the King into 
England again ; for he that hath the impudence to 
deny obedience to the lawful magistrate, and to swear 
to the oath of allegiance, &c, was better treated now- 
a-days in Newgate, than a poor Royalist, that hath 
suffered all his life for the King, is at Whitehall among 
his friends. 



59 



J 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

March 30, 1662. 

(Easter-day.) Having my old black suit new fur- 
bished, I was pretty neat in clothes to-day ; and my 
boy his old suit new trimmed, very handsome. To 
church in the morning, and so home, leaving the two 
Sir Williams to take the Sacrament, which I blame 
myself that I have hitherto neglected all my life, but 
once or twice at Cambridge. My wife and I to church 
in the afternoon, and seated ourselves, she below me, and 
by that means the precedence of the pew, which my 
Lady Batten and her daughter takes, is confounded ; and 
after sermon she and I did stay behind them in the pew, 
and went out by ourselves, a good while after them, 
which we judge a very fine project hereafter to avoyd 
contention. 

August 17, 1662. 

(Lord's day.) This being the last Sunday that the 
Presbyterians are to preach, unless they read the new 
Common Prayer, and renounce the Covenant, I had 
a mind to hear Dr. Bates's farewell sermon ; and walked 
to St. Dunstan's, where, it not being seven o'clock yet, 
the doors were not open ; and so I walked an hour in 
the Temple-garden, reading my vows, which it is a great 
content to me to see how I am a changed man in all 
respects for the better, since I took them, which the God 
of Heaven continue to me, and make me thankful for. 
At eight o'clock I went, and crowded in at a back door 
among others, the church being half-full almost before 
any doors were open publicly, which is the first time that 

60 



MR. PEPYS'S DEVOTIONS 



I have done so these many years ; and so got into the 
gallery, beside the pulpit, and heard very well. His text 

was, " Now the God of Peace ; " the last Hebrews, 

and the 20th verse : he making a very good sermon, 
and very little reflections in it to any thing of the times. 
I was very well pleased with the sight of a fine lady 
that I have often seen walk in Gray's Inn Walks. To 
Madam Turner's, and dined with her. She had heard 
Parson Herring take his leave ; though he, by reading 
so much ot the Common Prayer as he did, hath cast 
himself out of the good opinion of both sides. After 
dinner, to St. Dunstan's again ; and the church quite 
crowded before I come, which was just at one o'clock ; 
but I got into the gallery again, but stood in a crowd. 
Dr. Bates pursued his text again very well ; and only at 
the conclusion told us, after this manner : " I do believe 
that many of you do expect that I should say something 
to you in reference to the time, this being the last time 
that possibly I may appear here. You know it is not 
my manner to speak anything in the pulpit that is 
extraneous to my text and business ; yet this I shall say, 
that it is not my opinion, fashion, or humour, that keeps 
me from complying with what is required of us ; but 
something, after much prayer, discourse, and study, yet 
remains unsatisfied, and commands me herein. Where- 
fore, if it is my unhappinesse not to receive such an 
illuminacion as should direct me to do otherwise, I know 
no reason why men should not pardon me in this world, 
as I am confident that God will pardon me for it in the 
next." And so he concluded. Parson Herring read 

61 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

a psalme and chapters before sermon ; and one was 
the chapter in the Acts, where the story of Ananias 
and Sapphira is. And after he had done, says he, 
" This is just the case of England at present. God 
he bids us to preach, and men bids us not to preach ; 
and if we do, we are to be imprisoned and further 
punished. All that I can say to it is, that I beg your 
prayers, and the prayers of all good Christians, for us." 
This was all the exposition he made of the chapter in 
these very words, and no more. I was much pleased 
with Bates's manner of bringing in the Lord's Prayer 
after his owne ; thus, " In whose comprehensive words 
we sum up all our imperfect desires ; saying, c Our 
Father,' " &c. I hear most of the Presbyters took their 
leaves to-day, and that the City is much dissatisfied with 
it. I pray God keep peace among us, and make the 
Bishops careful of bringing in men in their rooms, or 
else all will fly a-pieces ; for bad ones will not go down 
with the City. 

December 25, 1662. 

(Christmas day.) Had a pleasant walk to White Hall, 
where I intended to have received the Communion with 
the family, but I come a little too late. So I walked up 
into the house, and spent my time looking over pictures, 
particularly the ships in King Henry the VTIIth's voyage 
to Bullaen ; marking the great difference between those 
built then and now. By and by down to the chapel 
again, where Bishop Morley preached upon the song of 
the Angels, " Glory to God on high, on earth peace, 

62 



MR. PEPYS'S DEVOTIONS 



and good will towards men." Methought he made but 
a poor sermon, but long, and, reprehending the common 
jollity of the Court for the true joy that shall and ought 
to be on these days, he particularized concerning their 
excess in playes and gaming, saying that he whose office 
it is to keep the gamesters in order and within bounds, 
serves but for a second rather in a duell, meaning the 
groome-porter. Upon which it was worth observing 
how far they are come from taking the reprehensions of 
a bishop seriously, that they all laugh in the chapel 
when he reflected on their ill actions and courses. He 
did much press us to joy in these public days of joy, and 
to hospitality ; but one that stood by whispered in my 
eare that the Bishop do not spend one groate to the poor 
himself. The sermon done, a good anthem followed 
with vialls, and the King come down to receive the 
Sacrament. But 1 staid not, but calling my boy from 
my Lord's lodgings, and giving Sarah some good advice 
by my Lord's order to be sober, and look after the house, 
I walked home again with great pleasure, and there dined 
by my wife's bed-side with great content, having a mess 
of brave plum-porridge and a roasted pullet for dinner, 
and I sent for a mince-pie abroad, my wife not being 
well, to make any herself yet. 

Aprils 1663. 

To White Hall and to Chappell, which being most 
monstrous full, I could not go into my pew, but sat 
among the quire. Dr. Creeton, the Scotchman, preached 
a most admirable, good, learned, and most severe sermon, 

63 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

yet comicall, upon the words of the woman, " Blessed is 
the womb that bare thee, and the paps that give thee 
suck : and he answered, nay : rather is he blessed that 
heareth the word of God, and keepeth it." He railed 
bitterly ever and anon against John Calvin, and his 
brood, the Presbyterians, and against the present terme, 
now in use, of " tender consciences." He ripped up 
Hugh Peters, (calling him the execrable skellum x ) his 
preaching, stirring up the maids of the city to bring in 
their bodkins and thimbles. 

August 9, 1663. 

(Lord's day.) To church, and heard Mr. Mills, who 
is lately returned out of the country, and it seems was 
fetched in by many of the parishioners, with great state, 
preach upon the authority of the ministers, upon these 
words, " We are therefore embassadors of Christ." 
Wherein, among many other high expressions, he said, 
that such a learned man used to say, that if a minister of 
the word and an angell should meet him together, he 
would salute the minister first ; which methought was a 
little too high. 

October 14, 1663. 

After dinner my wife and I, by Mr. Rawlinson's 
conduct, to the Jewish Synagogue: where the men and 
boys in their vayles, and the women behind a lattice out 
of sight ; and some things stand up, which I believe is 
their Law, in a press, to which all coming in do bow ; 

1 Villain or scoundrel. — E. F. A. 

64 



MR. PEPYS'S DEVOTIONS 



and in the putting on their vayles do say something, to 
which others that hear the priest do cry, Amen, and the 
party do kiss his vayle. Their service all in a singing 
way, and in Hebrew. And anon their Laws that they 
take out of the press are carried by several men, four or 
five several burthens in all, and they do relieve one 
another ; and whether it is that every one desires to have 
the carrying of it, thus they carried it round about the 
room while such a service is singing. And in the end 
they had a prayer for the King, in which they pro- 
nounced his name in Portugall ; but the prayer, like 
the rest, in Hebrew. But, Lord ! to see the disorder, 
laughing, sporting, and no attention, but confusion in all 
their service, more like brutes than people knowing 
the true God, would make a man forswear ever seeing 
them more : and indeed I never did see so much, or 
could have imagined there had been any religion in the 
whole world, so absurdly performed as this. 

April 17, 1664. 

(Lord's day.) Up, and I put on my best cloth black 
suit and my velvet cloak, and with my wife in her best 
laced suit to Church, where we have not been these nine 
or ten weeks. A young simple fellow did preach : slept 
soundly all the sermon. Our parson, Mr. Mills, his 
own mistake in reading of the service, was very remark- 
able — that instead of saying "We beseech thee to 
preserve to our use the kindly fruits of the earth," 
he cries, " Preserve to our use our gracious Queen 
Katherine ! " 

65 f 



>/ 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

November 5, 1665. 

(Lord's day.) To the Cocke-pitt, where I heard the 
Duke of Albemarle's chaplain make a simple sermon : 
among other things, reproaching the imperfection of 
humane learning, he cried — " All our physicians cannot 
tell what an ague is, and all our arithmetique is not able 
to number the days of a man " — which, God knows, is 
not the fault of arithmetique, but that our under- 
standings reach not the thing. 

May 13, 1666. 

(Lord's day.) To Westminster, and into St. Margett's 
Church, where I heard a young man play the fool upon 
the doctrine of Purgatory. 

jfu/y 8, 1666. 

(Lord's day.) To church — wife and Mercer and I, 
in expectation of hearing some mighty preacher to-day, 
Mrs. Mary Batelier sending us word to ; but it proved 
an ordinary silly lecturer, which made me merry, and she 
laughed upon us to see her mistake. . . . To church, 
after dinner, again — a thing I have not done a good 
while before, go twice in one day. 

August 5, 1666. 

(Lord's day.) To the Church, where, I believe, Mrs. 
Horsly goes, by Merchant -tailors' hail, and there I find 
in the pulpit Elborough, my old schoolfellow and a 
simple rogue, and yet I find preaching a very good 
sermon, and in as right a parson-like manner, and in as 

66 



MR. PEPY'S DEVOTIONS 



good a manner as I have heard anybody ; and the church 
very full, which is a surprising consideration. 

November 20, 1666. 

To church, it being thanksgiving-day for the cessation 
of the plague ; but, Lord ! how the town do say that it 
is hastened before the plague is quite over, there being 
some people still ill of it, but only to get ground for 
plays to be publickly acted, which the Bishops would not 
suffer till the plague was over ; and one would think so, 
by the suddenness, of the notice given of the day, which 
was last Sunday, and the little ceremony. The sermon 
being dull of Mr. Minnes, and people with great 
indifferency come to hear him. By coach to Barkeshire- 
house, and there did get a very great meeting ; the 
Duke of York being there, and much business done, 
though not in proportion to the greatness of the business, 
and my Lord Chancellor sleeping and snoring the 
greater part of the time. 

January 20, 1666-67. 

I to church, and there, beyond expectation, find our 
seat, and all the church crammed, by twice as many 
people as used to be : and to my great joy find Mr. 
Frampton in the pulpit ; and I think the best sermon, 
for goodness and oratory, without affectation or study, 
that ever I heard in my life. The truth is, he preaches 
the most like an apostle that ever I heard man ; and 
it was much the best time that I ever spent in my life at 
church. His text, Ecclesiastes xi., verse 8th — " But if 

67 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

a man live many years, and rejoice in them all, yet let 
him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be 
many. All that cometh is vanity." 

April 21, 1667. 

To Hackney church, where very full, and found much 
difficulty to get pews, I offering the sexton money, and 
he could not help me. So my wife and Mercer ventured 
into a pew, and I into another. A knight and his lady 
very civil to me when they came, being Sir George 
Viner, and his lady — rich in Jewells, but most in beauty 
— almost the finest woman that ever I saw. That 
which I went chiefly to see was the young ladies of the 
schools, whereof there is great store, very pretty ; and 
also the organ, which is handsome, and tunes the psalms, 
and plays with the people ; which is mighty pretty, and 
makes me mighty earnest to have a pair at our church, 
I having almost a mind to give them a pair, if they 
would settle a maintenance on them for it. 

April 28, 1667. 

(Lord's day.) After dinner, by water — the day being 
mighty pleasant, and the tide serving finely, reading in 
Boyle's book of colours, as high as Barne Elmes, and 
there took one turn alone, and then back to Putney 
Church, where I saw the girls of the schools, few of 
which pretty ; and there I come into a pew, and met 
with little James Pierce, which I was much pleased at, 
the little rogue being very glad to see me : his master, 
Reader to the church. Here was a good sermon and 

68 




ELIZABETH PEPYS. 
From an engraving after Hailes. 



, 



MR. PEPYS'S DEVOTIONS 



much company, but I sleepy, and a little out of order, 
at my hat falling down through a hole beneath the 
pulpit, which, however, after sermon, by a stick, and 
the help of the clerk, I got up again. And so by water, 
the tide being with me again. 

August 23, 1668. 

(Lord's day.) To church, and heard a good sermon 
of Mr. Gifford's at our church, upon " Seek ye first the 
kingdom of Heaven and its righteousness, and all things 
shall be added to you." A very excellent and persuasive, 
good and moral sermon. He showed, like a wise man, 
that righteousness is a surer moral way of being rich, 
than sin and villainy. 



69 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 



MR. PEPYS IN HIS CUPS 

September 28, 1660. 

All the afternoon among my workmen, and did give 
them drink, and very merry with them, it being my luck 
to meet with a sort of drolling workmen on all occasions. 

December 27, 1660. 

This afternoon there came in a strange lord to Sir 
William Batten's by a mistake, and takes discourse with 
him, so that we could not be rid of him till Sir Arn[old] 
Breames, and Mr. Bens, and Sir W. Pen, fell a-drinking 
to him till he was drunk, and so sent him away. About 
the middle of the night I was very ill — I think with 
eating and drinking too much — and so I was forced to 
call the mayde, who pleased my wife and I in her 
running up and down so innocently in her smock. 

March 22, 1661. 

At five o'clock we set out in a coach home, and were 
very merry all the way. At Deptford we met with Mr. 
Newborne, and some other friends and their wives in a 
coach to meet us, and so they went home with us, and 

70 



MR. PEPYS IN HIS CUPS 



at Sir W. Batten's we supped and then to bed, my 
head aching mightily through the wine that I drank 
to-day. 

April 3, 1 66 1. 

Up among my workmen, my head akeing all day 
from last night's debauch. At noon dined with Sir W. 
Batten and Pen, who would have me drink two good 
draughts of sack to-day, to cure me of my last night's 
disease, which I thought strange, but I think find 
it true. 

April 24, 1 66 1. 

Waked in the morning, with my head in a sad taking 
through the last night's drink, which I am very sorry 
for : so rose, and went out with Mr. Creed to drink our 
morning draught, which he did give me in chocolate to 
settle my stomach. 

June 5, 1 661. 

This morning did give my wife ^4, to lay out upon J 
lace and other things for herself. Sir W. Pen and I 
went out with Sir R. Slingsby to bowles in his ally, and 
there had good sport. I took my flageolette, and played 
upon the leads in the garden, where Sir W. Pen come 
out in his shirt into his leads, and there we staid talking 
and singing and drinking great draughts of claret, and 
eating botargo, and bread and butter till twelve at 
night, it being moonshine ; and so to-bed, very near 
fuddled. 

71 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

June 6, 1 66 1. 

My head hath aked all night, and all this morning, 
with my last night's debauch. 

September 29, 1 661. 

(Lord's day.) What at dinner and supper I drink, I 
Jcnow not how, of my own accord, so much wine, that I 
was even almost foxed, and my head aked all night ; so 
home and to bed, without prayers, which I never did yet, 
since I come to the house, of a Sunday night : I being 
now so out of order that I durst not read prayers, for fear 
of being perceived by my servants in what case I was. 



72 



THE PEPYSES WOO TERPSICHORE 



THE PEPYSES WOO TERPSICHORE 

April 19, 1663. 

(Easter-day.) Up, and this day put on my close-kneed 
coloured suit, which, with new stockings of the colour, 
with belt, and new gilt-handled sword, is very handsome. 
To church, where the young Scotchman preaching, I 
slept awhile. After supper, fell in discourse of dancing, 
and I find that Ashwell hath a very fine carriage, which 
makes my wife almost ashamed of herself to see herself so 
outdone, but to-morrow she begins to learn to dance for 
a month or two. 

April 25, 1663. 

In the evening, merrily practising the dance which 
my wife hath begun to learn this day of Mr. Pembleton, 
but I fear will hardly do any great good at it, because 
she is conceited that she do well already, though I think 
no such thing. 

May 4, 1663. 

The dancing-master [Pembleton] come, whom stand- 
ing by, seeing him instructing my wife, when he had 

73 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

done with her, he would needs have me try the steps of 
a coranto ; and what with his desire and my wife's 
importunity, I did begin, and then was obliged to give 
him entry money ios., and am become his scholler. 
The truth is, I think it is a thing very useful for any 
gentleman. 

May 8, 1663. 

At supper comes Pembleton, and afterwards we all up 
to dancing till late. They say that I am like to make a 
dancer. 

May 12, 1663. 

A little angry with my wife for minding nothing now 
but the dancing-master, having him come twice a day, 
which is folly. 



74 



MR. PEPYS HAS PERILOUS EXPERIENCES 



MR. PEPYS HAS PERILOUS 
EXPERIENCES 

October 23, 1660. 

One of Mr. Shepley's pistols, charged with bullets, 
flew off 7 , and it pleased God that the mouth of the gun 
being downwards, it did us no hurt ; but I think I never 
was in more danger in my life. 

September 19, 1662. 

To Deptford and Woolwich yard. At night, after I 
had eaten a cold pullet, I walked by brave moonshine, 
with three or four armed, to guard me, to Redriffe — it 
being a joy to my heart to think of the condition that I 
was now in, that people should of themselves provide 
this for me, unspoke to. I hear this walk is dangerous 
to walk by night, and much robbery committed here. 

May 11, 1663. 

On foot to Greenwich, where, going, I was set upon 
by a great dog, who got hold of my garters, and might 
have done me hurt ; but, Lord ! to see in what a maze 
I was, that, having a sword about me, I never thought 

75 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

01 it, or had the heart to make use of it, but might, for 
want of that courage, have been worried. 

June 30, 1664. 

By water to Woolwich, and walked back from Wool- 
wich to Greenwich all alone ; saw a man that had a 
cudgell in his hand, and, though he told me he laboured 
in the King's yard, and many other good arguments that 
he is an honest man, yet, God forgive me ! I did doubt 
he might knock me on the head behind with his club. 
But I got safe home. 

July 11, 1664. 

About eleven o'clock, knowing what money I have in 
the house, and hearing a noise, I begun to sweat worse 
and worse, till I melted almost to water. I rung, and 
could not in half an hour make either of the wenches 
hear me ; and this made me fear the more, lest they 
might be gag'd ; and then I began to think that there 
was some design in a stone being flung at the window 
over our stairs this evening, by which the thiefes meant 
to try what looking there would be after them, and know 
our company. These thoughts and fears I had, and do 
hence apprehend the fears of all rich men that are 
covetous, and have much money by them. At last, 
Jane rose, and then I understand it was only the dog 
wants a lodging, and so made a noyse. 

August 16, 1664. 

Wakened about two o'clock this morning with a 

76 



MR. PEPYS HAS PERILOUS EXPERIENCES 

noise of thunder, which lasted for an hour, with such 
continued lightnings, not flashes, but flames, that all the 
sky and ayre was light ; and that for a great while, 
not a minute's space between new flames all the time : 
such a thing as I never did see, nor could have believed 
had even been in nature. And being put into a great 
sweat with it, could not sleep till all was over. And 
that accompanied with such a storm of rain as I 
never heard in my life. I expected to find my house 
in the morning overflowed ; but I find not one drop 
of rain in my house, nor any news of hurt done. 

January 30, 1664-65. 

This is solemnly kept as a fast all over the City, 
but I kept my house, putting my closet to rights 
again. To my office, and, being late at it, comes 
Mercer to me, to tell me that my wife was in bed, 
and desired me to come home ; for they hear, and have, 
night after night, lately heard noises over their head 
upon the leads. Now, knowing that I have a great 
sum of money in my house, this puts me into a most 
mighty affright, that for more than two hours, I could 
not almost tell what to do or say, but feared this 
night, and remembered that this morning I saw a 
woman and two men stand suspiciously in the entry, in 
the dark ; I calling to them, they made me only this 
answer, the woman saying that the men come to see her ; 
but who she was I could not tell. The truth is, my 
house is mighty dangerous, having so many ways to be 
come to ; and at my windows, over the stairs, to see who 

11 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

goes up and down ; but, if I escape to-night, I will 
remedy it. God preserve us this night safe ! So, at 
almost two o'clock, I home to my house, and, in great 
fear, to bed, thinking every running of a mouse really a 
thief; and so to sleep, very brokenly, all night long, and 
found all safe in the morning. 

July 7, 1666. 

To bed ; and it proved the hottest night that ever I 
was in in my life, and thundered and lightened all night 
long, and rained hard. But, Lord ! to see in what fear I 
lay a good while, hearing of a little noise of somebody 
walking in the house : so rung the bell, and it was my 
maids going to bed about one o'clock in the morning. 
But the fear of being robbed, having so much money in 
the house, was very great, and is still so, and do much 
disquiet me. 

July 15, 1666. 

(Lord's day.) To church, where our lecturer made a 
sorry silly sermon, upon the great point of proving the 
truth of the Christian religion. Walked to the Park, and 
there, it being mighty hot and I weary, lay down by the 
canalle, upon the grass, and slept a while, and was thinking 
of a lampoon which hath run in my head this week, to 
make up the late fight at sea, and the miscarriages there ; 
but other businesses put it out of my head, and so home, 
and there drank a great deal of small beer ; and so took 
up my wife and Betty Michell and her husband, and 
away into the fields, to take the ayre, as far as beyond 

78 



MR. PEPYS HAS PERILOUS EXPERIENCES 



Hackney, and so back again, in our way drinking a great 
deal of milke, which I drank to take away my heartburne. 
Home, and to bed in some pain, and fear of more. In 
mighty pain all night long, which I impute to the milk 
that I drank upon so much beer, and the cold, to my 
washing my feet the night before. 

August 23, 1667. 

Abroad to White Hall in a hackney-coach with Sir 
W. Pen ; and in our way, in the narrow street near 
Paul's, going the backway by Tower Street, and the 
coach being forced to put back, he was turning himself 
into a cellar, which made people cry out to us, and so we 
were forced to leap out — he out of one, and I out of the 
other door, Query, whether a glass-coach would have per- 
mitted us to have made the escape ? neither of us getting 
any hurt ; nor could the coach have got much hurt had 
we been in it ; but, however, there was cause enough for 
us to do what we could to save ourselves. So, being all 
dusty, we put into the Castle tavern, by the Savoy, and 
there brushed ourselves. 

November 29, 1 667. 

Waked about seven o'clock this morning with a noise 
I supposed I heard, near our chamber, of knocking, which, 
by and by, increased : and I, more awake, could dis- 
tinguish it better. I then waked my wife, and both of 
us wondered at it, and lay so great a while, while that in- 
creased, and at last heard it plainer, knocking, as if it 
were breaking down a window for people to get out ; and 

79 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

then removing of stools and chairs ; and plainly, by and 
by, going up and down our stairs. We lay, both of us, 
afraid ; yet I would have rose, but my wife would not let 
me. Besides, I could not do it without making noise ; 
and we did both conclude that thieves were in the house, 
but wondered what our people did, whom we thought 
either killed, or afraid, as we were. Thus we lay till the 
clock struck eight, and high day. At last, I removed 
my gown and slippers safely to the other side of the 
bed over my wife ; and there safely rose, and put on 
my gown and breeches, and then, with a firebrand in 
my hand, safely opened the door, and saw nor heard 
any thing. Then, with fear, I confess, went to the 
maid's chamber-door, and all quiet and safe. Called Jane 
up, and went down safely, and opened my chamber-door, 
where all well. Then more freely about, and to the 
kitchen, where the cook-maid up, and all safe. So up 
again, and when Jane come, and we demanded whether 
she heard no noise, she said, " yes, but was afraid," but 
rose with the other maid, and found nothing ; but heard 
a noise in the great stack of chimnies that goes from Sir 
J. Minnes through our house ; and so we sent, and their 
chimnies have been swept this morning, and the noise 
was that, and nothing else. It is one of the most extra- 
ordinary accidents in my life, and gives ground to think 
of Don Quixote's adventures how people may be sur- 
prised, and the more from an accident last night, that our 
young gibb-cat did leap down our stairs from top to 
bottom, at two leaps, and frighted us, that we could not 
tell well whether it was the cat or a spirit, and do some- 

80 



MR. PEPYS HAS PERILOUS EXPERIENCES 



times think this morning that the house might be 
haunted. 

December 30, 1668. 

My wife and I to the 'Change ; but, in going, our 
neere horse did fling himself, kicking of the coachbox 
over the pole ; and a great deal of trouble it was to get 
him right again, and we forced to 'light, and in great 
fear of spoiling the horse, but there was no hurt. 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 



MR. PEPYS WITH HIGH AND LOW 

May 25, 1660. 

By the morning we were come close to the land, 1 
and every body made ready to get on shore. The King 
and the two Dukes did eat their breakfast before they 
went ; and there being set some ship's diet before them, 
only to show them the manner of the ship's diet, they 
eat of nothing else but pease and pork, and boiled beef. 
I had Mr. Darcy in my cabin ; and Dr. Clerke, who 
eat with me, told me how the King had given ^50 to 
Mr. Shepley for my Lord's servants, and ^500 among 
the officers and common men of the ship. I spoke to 
the Duke of York about business, who called me Pepys 
by name, and upon my desire did promise me his future 
favour. Great expectation of the King's making some 
Knights, but there was none. About noon (though the 
brigantine that Beale made was there ready to carry him) 
yet he would go in my Lord's barge with the two 
Dukes. Our Captain steered, and my Lord went along 
bare with him. I went, and Mr. Mansell, and one of 
the King's footmen, and a dog that the King loved, in 

1 The occasion was that of the return of the fleet to England from a 
cruise to Holland. Mr. Pepys had been taken as secretary. 

82 



MR. PEPYS WITH HIGH AND LOW 

a boat by ourselves, and so got on shore when the King 
did, who was received by General Monk with all 
imaginable love and respect at his entrance upon the 
land at Dover. Infinite the crowd of people and the 
gallantry of the horsemen, citizens, and noblemen of all 
sorts. The Mayor of the town come and give him his 
white staff, the badge of his place, which the King did 
give him again. The Mayor also presented him from 
the town a very rich Bible, which he took, and said it 
was the thing that he loved above all things in the world. 
A canopy was provided for him to stand under, which he 
did, and talked awhile with General Monk and others, 
and so into a stately coach there set for him, and so 
away through the town towards Canterbury, without 
making any stay at Dover. The shouting and joy 
expressed by all is past imagination. Seeing that my 
Lord did not stir out of his barge, I got into a boat, 
and so into his barge, and we back to the ship, seeing 
a man almost drowned that fell into the sea. My Lord 
almost transported with joy that he had done all this 
without any the least blur or obstruction in the world, 
that could give offence to any, and with the great honour 
he thought it would be to him. Being overtook by the 
brigantine, my Lord and we went out of our barge into 
it, and so went on board with Sir W. Batten and the 
Vice and Rear-Admirals. At night, I supped with the 
Captain, who told me what the King had given us. 
My Lord returned late, and at his coming did give me 
order to cause the mark to be gilded, and a Crown and 
C.R. to be made at the head of the coach table, where 

83 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

the King to-day with his own hand did mark his height, 
which accordingly I caused the painter to do, and is now 
done, as is to be seen. 

November 12, 1660. 

My father and I discoursed seriously about my sister's 
coming to live with me, and yet I am much afraid of her 
ill nature. I told her plainly my mind was to have her 
come not as a sister but as a servant, which she promised 
me that she would, and with many thanks did weep 
for joy. 

March 25, 1661. 

Homewards, and took up a boy that had a lanthorne, 
that was picking up of rags, and got him to light me 
home, and had great discourse with him how he could 
get sometimes three or four bushells of rags in a day, and 
got 3d. a bushel for them, and many other discourses, 
what and how many ways there are for poor children to 
get their livings honestly. 

April 20, 1 66 1. 

Comes my boy to tell me that the Duke of York had 
sent for all the principal officers, &c, to come to him 
to-day. So I went by water to Mr. Coventry's, and 
there staied and talked a good while with him till all 
the rest come. We went up and saw the Duke dress 
himself, and in his night habitt he is a very plain man. 



8+ 



MR. PEPYS IS DIPLOMATIC 



MR. PEPYS IS DIPLOMATIC 

July 5, 1662. 

At noon, had Sir W. Pen, who I hate with all my 
heart for his base treacherous tricks, but yet I think it 
not policy to declare it yet, and his son William, to my 
house to dinner, where was also Mr. Creed, and my 
cousin Harry Alcocke. I having some venison given 
me a day or two ago, and so I had a shoulder roasted, 
another baked, and the umbles baked in a pie, and all 
very well done. We were merry as I could be in 
that company. 

July 9, 1662. 

Sir W. Pen come to my office to take his leave 
of me, and, desiring a turn in the garden, did commit the 
care of his building to me, and offered all his services to 
me in all matters of mine. I did, God forgive me ! 
promise him all my service and love, though the rogue 
knows he deserves none from me, nor do I intend to 
show him any ; but as he dissembles with me, so must 
I with him. Come Mr. Mills, the minister, to see me, 
which he hath rarely done to me, though every day 

B5 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

almost to others of us, but he is a cunning fellow, and 
knows where the good victuals is, and the good drink, 
at Sir W. Batten's. However, I used him civilly, though 
I love him as I do the rest of his coat. 

November 5, 1662. 

My Lady Batten did send to speak with me, and told 
me very civilly that she did not desire, nor hoped I did, 
that anything should pass between us but what was 
civill, though there was not the neighbourliness between 
her and my wife that was fit to be, and so complained of 
my maid's mocking of her. When she called " Nan " 
to her maid within her own house, my maid Jane in 
the garden overheard her, and mocked her, and of my 
wife's speaking unhandsomely of her, to all which I did 
give her a very respectfull answer, such as did please her, 
and am sorry indeed that this should be, though I do not 
desire there should be any acquaintance between my 
wife and her. But I promised to avoid such words and 
passages for the future. At night I called up my maids, 
and schooled Jane, who did answer me so humbly and 
drolly about it, that, though I seemed angry, I was much 
pleased with her and [my] wife also. 



86 






MR. PEPYS AS CONVIVIALIST 



MR. PEPYS AS CONVIVIALIST 

August 27, 1660. 

Come a vessel of Northdown ale from Mr. Pierce, 
the purser, to me, and a brave Turkey-carpet and a 
jar of olives from Captain Cuttance, and a pair of fine 
turtle-doves from John Burr to my wife. Major Hart 
come to me, whom I did receive with wine and 
anchovies, which made me so dry, that I was ill with 
them all night, and was fain to have the girl rise and 
fetch me some drink. 

September 23, 1660. 

To the Hope Tavern, and sent for Mr. Chaplin, 
who with Nicholas Osborne and one Daniel come to 
us, and we drank off two or three quarts of wine, 
which was very good ; the drawing of our wine causing 
a great quarrel in the house between the two drawers 
which should draw us the best, which caused a great 
deal of noise and falling out till the master parted them, 
and came up to us, and did give a long account of the 
liberty that he gives his servants, all alike, to draw 
what wine they will to please his customers ; and [we] 
eat above 200 walnuts. Nicholas Osborne did give me 

87 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

a barrell of samphire, and showed me the keys of 
Mardyke Fort, which he that was commander of the 
fort sent him as a token when the fort was demolished, 
and I will get them of him if I can. 

January 24, 1660-61. 

There dined with me Sir William Batten and his 
lady and daughter, Sir W. Pen, Mr. Fox, (his lady being 
ill could not come) and Captain Cuttance : the first 
dinner I have made since I come hither. This cost me 
above ^5, and merry we were — only my chimney 
smokes. To bed, being glad that the trouble is over. 

February 27, 1 660-6 1. 

I called for a dish of fish, which we had for dinner, 
this being the first day of Lent ; and I do intend to try 
whether I can keep it or no. 

February 28, 1 660-6 1. 

Notwithstanding my resolution, yet, for want of 
other victualls, I did eat flesh this Lent, but am resolved 
to eat as little as I can. 

March 26, 1661. 

Very merry at dinner : among other things, because 
Mrs. Turner and her company eat no flesh this Lent, 
and I had a great deal of good flesh, which made their 
mouths water. To Salisbury Court, and I and my 
wife sat in the pitt, and saw "The Bondman" done to 
admiration. 

88 



MR. PEPYS AS CONVIVIALIST 



November 3, 1661. 

(Lord's day.) At night, my wife and I had a good 
supper by ourselves of a pullet hashed, which pleased me 
much to see my condition come to allow ourselves a 
dish like that. 

January 26, 1661-62. 

(Lord's day.) Thanks be to God, since my leaving 
drinking of wine, I do find myself much better, and 
do mind my business better and do spend less money, 
and less time lost in idle company. 

April 4, 1663. 

This being my feast, in lieu of what I should have 
had a few days ago, for the cutting of the stone, very 
merry at, before, and after dinner, and the more for that 
my dinner was great, and most neatly dressed by our 
own only mayde. We had a fricasee of rabbits, and 
chickens, a leg of mutton boiled, three carps in a dish, 
a great dish of a side of lamb, a dish of roasted pigeons, 
a dish of four lobsters, three tarts, a lamprey pie, a most 
rare pie, a dish of anchoves, good wine of several 
sorts, and all things mighty noble, and to my great 
content. 

April 22, 1663. 

To my uncle Wight's, by invitation, where we had 
but a poor dinner, and not well dressed ; besides, the 
very sight of my aunt's hands, and greasy manner of 
carving, did almost turn my stomach. 

89 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

August I, 1667. 

Dined at Sir W. Pen's, only with Mrs. Turner and 
her husband, on a venison pasty, that stunk like a devil. 
However, I did not know it till dinner was done. We 
had nothing but only this, and a leg of mutton, and a 
pullet or two. 



90 



MR. PEPYS'S WORLDLY ESTATE 



MR. PEPYS'S WORLDLY ESTATE 

August 6, 1660. 

This night Mr. Man offered me £1,000 for my office 
of Clerk of the Acts, which made my mouth water ; 
but yet I dare not take it till I speak with my Lord 
to have his consent. 

May 30, 1662. 

This morning I made up my accounts, and find 
myself clear worth about £530, and no more, so little 
have I encreased it since my last reckoning, but I 
confess I have laid out much money in clothes. 

August 31, 1662. 

(Lord's day.) News is brought me that Sir W. Pen 
is come. Made my monthly accounts, and find myself 
worth in money about £686 19s. 2|d., for which God 
be praised. I now saving money, and my expenses 
being very little. 

October 31, 1663. 

To my great sorrow find myself £43 worse than I 
was the last month, which was then £760, and now 

91 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

it is but £717. But it hath chiefly arisen from my 
layings-out in clothes for myself and wife ; viz., for her 
about ;£i2, and for myself £$$, or thereabouts ; having 
made myself a velvet cloak, two new cloth shirts, black, 
plain both ; a new shag gown, trimmed with gold 
buttons and twist, with a new hat, and silk tops for 
my legs, and many other things, being resolved hence- 
forward to go like myself. And also two perriwiggs, 
one whereof costs me ^3, and the other 40s. I have 
worn neither yet, but will begin next week, God willing. 
I having laid out in clothes for myself, and wife, and for 
her closet and other things without, these two months 
this, and the last, besides household expenses of 
victualls, &c, above jfno. But I hope I shall with 
more comfort labour to get more, and with better 
successe than when, for want of clothes, I was forced to 
sneak like a beggar. 

December 25, 1663. 

(Christmas-day.) My wife begun, I know not 
whether by design or chance, to enquire what she 
should do, if I should by any accident die, to which 
I did give her some slight answer, but shall make good 
use of it to bring myself to some settlement for her sake, 
by making a will as soon as I can. 

December 31, 1663. 

To dinner, my wife, and I, a fine turky and a minced 
pie, and dined in state, poor wretch, she and I, and have 
thus kept our Christmas together all alone almost, 

92 



MR. PEPYS'S WORLDLY ESTATE 

having not once been out. At the Coffee [house], 
hearing some simple discourse about Quakers being 
charmed by a string about their wrists. I bless God I 
do, after a large expence, even this month, find that I am 
worth, in money, besides all my household stuff, or 
anything of Brampton, above ^800, whereof in my 
Lord Sandwich's hand, ^700, and the rest in my hand. 
I do live at my lodgings in the Navy Office, my 
family being, besides my wife and I, Jane Gentleman, 
Besse, our excellent, good-natured cook-maid, and Susan, 
a little girl, having neither man nor boy, nor like to have 
again a good while, living now in most perfect content 
and quiet, and very frugally also ; my health pretty good. 
At the office I am -well, though envied to the devil by 
Sir William Batten, who hates me to death, but cannot 
hurt me. The rest either love me, or at least do not 
show otherwise, though I know Sir William Pen to be 
a false knave touching me, though he seems fair. My 
father and mother well in the country ; and at this time 
the young ladies of Hinchingbroke with them — their 
house having the smallpox in it. The Queen, after a 
long and sore sickness, is become well again ; and the 
King minds his mistress a little too much, if it pleased 
God ! but I hope all things will go well, and in the 
Navy particularly, wherein I shall do my duty, whatever 
comes of it. The great talk is the design of the King 
of France, whether against the Pope or King of Spain 
nobody knows ; but a great and most promising Prince 
he is, and all the Princes of Europe have their eye upon 
him. My wife's brother come to great unhappiness by 

93 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

the ill disposition, my wife says, of his wife, and her 
poverty which she now professes, after all her husband's 
pretence of a great portion. At present, I am concerned 
for my cozen Angier, of Cambridge, lately broke in his 
trade, and this day am sending his son John, a very 
rogue, to sea. My brother Tom I know not what to 
think of ; for I cannot hear whether he minds his 
business or not ; and my brother John at Cambridge, 
with as little hopes of doing good there ; for when he 
was here, he did give me great cause of dissatisfaction 
with his manner of life. Pall with my father ; and God 
knows what she do there, or what will become of her ; 
for I have not anything yet to spare her, and she grows 
now old, and must be disposed of, one way or other. 
The Duchess of Yorke is growing well again. The 
Turke very far entered into Germany, and all that part 
of the world at a loss what to expect from his proceed- 
ing. Myself, blessed be God ! in a good way, and 
design and resolution of sticking to my business to 
get a little money with, doing the best service I can 
to the King also ; which God continue ! So ends the 
old year. 

February 23, 1663-64. 

(Shrove-Tuesday.) This day, by the blessing of God, 
I have lived thirty-one years in the world : and, by the 
grace of God, I find myself not only in good health in 
every thing, and particularly as to the stone, but only 
pain upon taking cold, and also in a fair way of coming 
to a better esteem and estate in the world, than ever I 

94 



MR. PEPYS'S WORLDLY ESTATE 

expected. But I pray God give me a heart to fear a 
fall, and to prepare for it ! 

December 31, 1664. 

To my accounts of the whole year till past twelve at 
night, it being bitter cold, but yet I was well satisfied 
with my work ; and above all, to find myself, by the 
great blessing of God, worth £1349, by which, as I have 
spent very largely, so I have laid up above ^500 this year 
above what I was worth this day twelve month. The 
Lord make me for ever thankful to his holy name for it. 
Soon as ever the clock struck one, I kissed my wife in the 
kitchen by the fireside, wishing her a merry new year. 

So ends the old year, I bless God, with great joy to 
me, not only from my having made so good a year of 
profit, as having spent ^420 and laid up ^540, and 
upwards ; but I bless God I never have been in so good 
plight as to my health in so very cold weather as this is, 
nor indeed in any hot weather, these ten years, as I am 
at this day, and have been these four or five months. 
But I am at a great loss to know whether it be my 
hare's foote, 1 or taking every morning of a pill of 
turpentine, or my having left off the wearing of a gowne. 
My family is my wife, in good health, and happy with 
her ; her woman Mercer, a pretty, modest, quiet maid ; 
her chamber-maid Besse, her cook-maid Jane, the little 
girl Susan, and my boy, which I have had about half a 
year, Tom Edwards, which I took from the King's 
Chapel ; and as pretty and loving quiet a family I have 

1 As a charm against the colic. 

95 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

as any man in England. My credit in the world and my 
office grows daily, and I am in good esteem with every- 
body, I think. My troubles of my uncle's estate pretty 
well over ; but it comes to be of little profit to us, my 
father being much supported by my purse. But great 
vexations remain upon my father and me from my 
brother Tom's death and ill condition, both to our 
disgrace and discontent, though no great reason for either. 
Public matters are all in a hurry about a Dutch war. 
Our preparations great ; our provocations against them 
great ; and, after all our presumption, we are now afraid 
as much of them as we lately contemned them. Every 
thing else in the State quiet, blessed be God ! My Lord 
Sandwich at sea with the fleete, at Portsmouth ; sending 
some about to cruise for taking of ships, which we have 
done to a great number. This Christmas I judged it fit 
to look over all my papers and books, and to tear all that 
I found either boyish or not to be worth keeping, or fit 
to be seen, if it should please God to take me away 
suddenly. 

March 26, 1665. 

(Lord's day and Easter day.) With my wife to 
church. Home to dinner, my wife and I, Mercer 
staying the Sacrament, alone. This is the day seven 
years which, by the blessing of God, I have survived of 
my being cut of the stone, and am now in very perfect 
good health, and have long been ; and though the last 
winter hath been as hard a winter as any have been 
these many years, yet I never was better in my life, nor 

96 



MR. PEPYS'S WORLDLY ESTATE 

have not, these ten years, gone colder in the summer 
than I have done all this winter, wearing only a doublet, 
and a waistcoat cut open on the back ; abroad, a cloak, 
and within doors a coat I slipped on. Now I am at a 
loss to know whether it be my hare's foot which is my 
preservation ; for I never had a fit of the collique since I 
wore it, or whether it be my taking of a pill of turpentine 
every morning. 

March 4, 1666. 

(Lord's day.) All day at my Tangier and private 
accounts, having neglected them since Christmas, which 
I hope I shall never do again ; for I find the incon- 
venience of it, it being ten times the labour to 
remember and settle things. But I thank God I did 
it at last, and brought them all fine and right ; and I 
am, I think, by all appears to me — and I am sure I 
cannot be £10 wrong — worth about £4,600, for which 
the Lord be praised, being the biggest sum I ever was 
worth yet. 

December 31, 1666. 

To my accounts, wherein, at last, I find them clear 
and right ; but, to my great discontent, do find that my 
gettings this year have been £573 less than my last : it 
being this year in all but £2,986 ; whereas, the last, I 
got £3,560. And then again my spendings this year 
have exceeded my spendings the last by £644 : my 
whole spendings last year being but £509 ; whereas 
this year, it appears, I have spent £1,154, which is a 

97 H 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

sum not fit to be said that ever I should spend in one 
year, before I am master of a better estate than I am. 
Yet, blessed be God ! and I pray God make me thank- 
ful for it, I do find myself worth in money, all good, 
above ^6,200 ; which is above .£1,800 more than I was 
the last year. Thus ends this year of publick wonder 
and mischief to this nation, and, therefore, generally 
wished by all people to have an end. Myself and 
family well, having four maids and one clerk, Tom, 
in my house, and my brother, now with me, to spend 
time in order to his preferment. Our health all well, 
publick matters in a most sad condition ; seamen dis- 
couraged for want of pay, and are become not to be 
governed : nor, as matters are now, can any fleete go 
out next year. Our enemies, French and Dutch, great, 
and grow more by our poverty. The Parliament back- 
ward in raising, because jealous of the spending of the 
money ; the City less and less likely to be built again, 
every body settling elsewhere, and nobody encouraged 
to trade. A sad, vicious, negligent Court, and all sober 
men there fearful of the ruin of the whole kingdom this 
next year ; from which, good God deliver us ! One 
thing I reckon remarkable in my own condition is, that 
I am come to abound in good plate, so as at all enter- 
tainments to be served wholly with silver plates, having 
two dozen and a half. 

April 21, 1667. 

(Lord's day.) I have a mind to buy enough ground 
to build a coach-house and stable ; for I have had it 

98 



MR. PEPYS'S WORLDLY ESTATE 

much in my thoughts lately that it is not too much 
for me now, in degree or cost, to keep a coach, but 
contrarily, that I am almost ashamed to be seen in a 
hackney. 

May 8, 1667. 

To enquire about the ground behind our house, of 
which I have a mind to buy enough to make a stable 
and coach-house ; for I do see that my condition do 
require it, as well that it is more charge to my purse to 
live as I do than to keep one. 

June 1, 1667. 

Up ; and there comes to me Mr. Commander, whom 
I employ about hiring of some ground behind the office, 
for the building of me a stable and coach-house : for I 
do find it necessary for me, both in respect of honour 
and the profit of it also, my expense in hackney-coaches 
being now so great, to keep a coach, and therefore will 
do it. 

May 10, 1668. 

(Lord's day.) Mr. Shepley come to see me, and tells 
me that my Lady x had it in her thoughts, if she had 
occasion, to borrow ^100 of me, which I did not 
declare my opposition to, though I doubt it will be so 
much lost. But, however, I will not deny my Lady, 
if she ask it, whatever comes of it, though it be lost ; 
but shall be glad that it is no bigger sum. 

1 Lady Sandwich, wife of Pepys's patron. 

99 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

December 1 1, 1668. 

At last, concluded upon giving ^50 for a fine pair of 
black horses we saw this day se'nnight. 

December 12, 1668. 

This day was brought home my pair of black coach- 
horses, the first I ever was master of, a fine pair ! 

December 21, 1668. 

To the Temple, the first time my fine horses ever 
carried me, and I am mighty proud of these. So home, 
and there dined with my wife and my people : and then 
she, and W. Hewer, and I out with our coach, but the 
old horses, not daring yet to use the others too much, but 
only to enter them. 

December 23, 1668. 

Home to dinner, and then with my wife alone abroad, 
with our new horses, the beautifullest almost that ever I 
saw, and the first time they ever carried her and me, but 
once ; but we are mighty proud of them. 



100 



MR. PEPYS THE GOSSIP 



MR. PEPYS THE GOSSIP 

July 4, 1663. 

With Creed to the King's Head ordinary ; but, coming 
late, dined at the second table very well for I2d. ; 
and a pretty gentleman in our company, who confirms 
my Lady Castlemaine's being gone from Court, but 
knows not the reason ; he told us of one wipe the Queen 
a little while ago did give her, when she come in and 
found the Queen under the dresser's hands, and had been 
so long : "I wonder your Majesty," says she, "can have 
the patience to sit so long a-dressing ? " — " I have so 
much reason to use patience," says the Queen, " that I 
can very well bear with it." 

May 20, 1664. 

Mr. Edward Montagu is turned out of the Court, not 
to return again. His fault, I perceive, was his pride, and, 
most of all, his affecting to be great with the Queen ; 
and it seems indeed he had more of her ear than every- 
body else, and would be with her talking alone two or 
three hours together ; insomuch that the Lords about 
the King, when he would be jesting with them about 
their wives, would tell the King that he must have a 

101 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

care of his wife too, for she hath now the gallant : and 
they say the King himself did once ask Montagu how 
his mistress, meaning the Queen, did. He grew so 
proud, and despised everybody, besides suffering nobody, 
he or she, to get to do any thing about the Queen, that 
they all laboured to do him a good turn. They all say 
that he did give some affront to the Duke of Monmouth, 
which the King himself did speak to him of. But 
strange it is that this man should, from the greatest 
negligence in the world, come to be the miracle of 
attendance : so as to take all offices from everybody, 
either men or women, about the Queen. So he is gone, 
nobody pitying, but laughing at him ; and he pretends 
only that he is gone to his father, that is sick in the country. 

February 21, 1664-65. 

My Lady Sandwich tells me how my Lord Castle- 
maine is coming over from France, and it is believed will 
soon be made friends with his Lady again. What mad 
freaks the Mayds of Honour at Court have : that Mrs. 
Jenings, one of the Dutchess's maids, the other day 
dressed herself like an orange wench, and went up and 
down and cried oranges ; till, falling down, or by some 
accident, her fine shoes were discerned, and she put to a 
great deal of shame ; that such as these tricks, being 
ordinary, and worse among them, thereby few will 
venture upon them for wives : my Lady Castlemaine 
will in merriment say, that her daughter, now above a 
year old or two, will be the first mayd in the Court that 
will be married. 

102 



MR. PEPYS THE GOSSIP 



July 7 , 1666. 

Creed tells me, he finds all things mighty dull at J 
Court ; and that they now begin to lie long in bed ; it 
being, as we suppose, not seemly for them to be found 
playing and gaming as they used to be ; nor that their 
minds are at ease enough to follow those sports, and yet 
not knowing how to employ themselves, though there be 
work enough for their thoughts and councils and pains, 
they keep long in bed. But he thinks with me, that 
there is nothing in the world can help us but the King's 
personal looking after his business and his officers, and 
that, with that, we may yet do well ; but otherwise must 
be undone ; nobody at this day taking care of any thing, 
nor hath any body to call him to account for it. 

July 12, 1666. 

Away to St. James's, and with Sir W. Coventry into 
London, to the office. And all the way I observed him 
mightily to make mirth of the Duke of Albemarle and 
his people about him, saying, that he was the happiest 
man in the world for doing of great things by sorry 
instruments ; and so particularized in Sir W. Clerke, and 
Riggs, and Halsey, and others ; and then, again, said that 
the only quality eminent in him was, that he did per- 
severe ; and indeed he is a very drudge, and stands by the 
King's business. And this he said, that one thing he was 
good at, that he never would receive an excuse if the 
thing was not done ; listening to no reason for it, be it 
good or bad. And then he begun to say what a great 
man Warcupp was, and something else, and what was 

103 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

that but a great Iyer ; and told me a story, how at table 
he did, they speaking about antipathys, say, that a rose 
touching his skin anywhere would make it rise and 
pimple ; and, by and by the dessert coming, with roses 
upon it, the Duchess bid him try, and they did ; but 
they rubbed and rubbed, but nothing would do in the 
world, by which his lie was found. He spoke con- 
temptibly of Holmes and his mermidons, that come to 
take done the ships from hence, and have carried them 
without any necessaries, or anything almost, that they 
will certainly be longer getting ready than if they had staid 
here. In fine, I do observe he hath no esteem nor kind- 
ness for the Duke's matters, but, contrarily, do slight him 
and them ; and I pray God the kingdom do not pay too 
dear by this jarring ; though this blockheaded Duke I 
did never expect better from. 

August 21, 1666. 

Mr. Batelier told me how, being with some others at 
Bourdeaux, making a bargain with another man at a 
taverne for some clarets, they did hire a fellow to thunder, 
which he had the art of doing, upon a deale board, and to 
rain and hail, that is, make the noise of, so as did give 
them a pretence of undervaluing their merchants' wines, 
by saying this thunder would spoil and turn them, which 
was so reasonable to the merchant, that he did abate two 
pistolls per ton for the wine, in belief of that. 

September 19, 1666. 

To White Hall, with Sir W. Batten and Sir W. 
104 



MR. PEPYS THE GOSSIP 



Pen, to Wilkes's : and there did hear many stories of Sir 
Henry Wood, about Lord Norwich drawing a tooth at a 
health. Another time, he, and Pinchbacke, and Dr. 
Goffe, now a religious man, Pinchbacke did begin a 
frolick to drink out of a glass with a toad in it : he 
did it without harm. Goffe, who knew sack would 
kill the toad, called for sack ; and, when he saw it dead, 
says he, "I will have a quick toad, and will not drink 
from a dead toad." By that means, no other being to be 
found, he escaped the health. 

October 15, 1666. 

Colvill tells me of the viciousness of the Court : the 
contempt the King brings himself into thereby ; his 
minding nothing, but doing all things just as his people 
about him will have it ! the Duke of York becoming a 
I slave to this Lady Denham, and wholly minds her. 
That there really were amours between the Duchess and 
Sydney ; that Sir W. Coventry is of the caball with the 
Duke of York, and Brouncker, with this Lady Denham : 
which is a shame, and I am sorry for it, and that Sir 
W. Coventry do make her visits ; but yet I hope it is not 
so. Pierce tells me, that as little agreement as there is 
between the Prince and Duke of Albemarle, yet they are 
likely to go to sea again ; for the first will not be trusted 
alone, and nobody will go with him but this Duke of 
Albemarle. He tells me much how all the commanders 
of the fleete and officers that are sober men do cry out 
upon their bad discipline, and the ruine that must follow 
it if continued. But that which I wonder most at — it 

105 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

seems their secretaries have been the most exorbitant in 
their fees to all sorts of the people, that it is not to be 
believed that they durst do it, so as it is believed they 
have got ^800 a-piece by the very vacancies in the fleete. 
He tells me that Lady Castlemaine is concluded to be 
with child again ; and that all the people about the 
King do make no scruple of saying that the King do 
intrigue with Mrs. Stewart, who, he says, is a most 
excellent natured lady. 

November 29, 1666. 

To show how mad we are at home, here, and unfit 
for any troubles : my Lord St. John did, a day or two 
since, openly pull a gentleman in Westminster Hall by 
the nose, one Sir Andrew Henly, while the Judges were 
upon their benches, and the other gentleman did give 
him a rap over the pate with his cane, of which fray the 
Judges, they say, will make a great matter : men are only 
sorry the gentleman did proceed to return a blow ; for, 
otherwise, my Lord would have been soundly fined for 
the affront, and may be yet for his affront to the Judges. 

April 20, 1667. 

Met Mr. Rolt, who tells me the reason of no play 
to-day at the King's house. That Lacy had been 
committed to the porter's lodge for his acting his part in 
the late new play, and being thence released to come to 
the King's house, he there met with Ned Howard, the 
poet of the play, who congratulated his release ; upon 
which Lacy cursed him as that it was the fault of his 

106 



MR. PEPYS THE GOSSIP 



nonsensical play that was the cause of his ill usage. Mr. 
Howard did give him some reply ; to which Lacy 
answered him, that he was more a fool than a poet ; upon 
which Howard did give him a blow on the face with his 
glove ; on which Lacy, having a cane in his hand, did 
give him a blow over the pate. Here Rolt and others 
that discoursed of it in the pit did wonder that Howard 
did not run him through, he being too mean a fellow to 
fight with. But Howard did not do any thing but com- 
plain to the King of it ; so the whole house is silenced, 
and the gentry seem to rejoice much at it, the house 
being become too insolent. 

December 6, 1667. 

Sir J. Minnes told me a story of my Lord Cottington, 
who, wanting a son, intended to make his nephew his 
heir, a country boy ; but did alter his mind upon the 
boy's being persuaded by another young heir, in roguery, 
to crow like a cock at my Lord's table, much company 
being there, and the boy having a great trick at doing 
that perfectly. My Lord bade them take away that fool 
from the table, and so gave over the thoughts of making 
him his heir, from this piece of folly. 

February 13, 1667-68. 

Mr. Brisband tells me in discourse that Tom Killigrew 
hath a fee out of the Wardrobe for cap and bells, under 
the title of the King's Foole or Jester ; and may revile or 
jeere any body, the greatest person, without offence, by 
the privilege of his place. 

107 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 



MR. PEPYS IS GREGARIOUS 

August 20, 1662. 

Meeting Mr. Townsend, he would needs take me to 
Fleet Street, to one Mr. Barwell, squire sadler to the 
King, and there we and several other Wardrobe-men 
dined. We had a venison pasty, and other good, plain, 
and handsome dishes — the mistress of the house, a pretty 
well-carriaged woman, and a fine hand she hath; and her 
maid a pretty brown lass. 

August 21, 1662. 

To Mr. Rawlinson's, where my uncle Wight and my 
aunt, and some neighbour couples, were at a very good 
venison pasty. Hither come, after we were set down, a 
most pretty young lady, only her hands were not white 
nor handsome, which pleased me well, and I found her 
to be sister to Mrs. Anne Wight. We were good 
company, and had a very pretty dinner. 

February 3, 1663-64. 

To the Mitre taverne, and there met with W. Howe 
come to buy wine for my Lord against his going down 

108 



MR. PEPYS IS GREGARIOUS 



to Hinchingbroke, and I private with him, a great while 
discoursing of my Lord's strangeness to me ; but he 
answers that I have no reason to think any such thing, 
but that my Lord is only in general a more reserved man 
than he was before. My wife is full of sad stories of her 
good-natured father, and roguish brother, who is going 
for Holland, and his wife, to be a soldier. In Covent 
Garden to-night, going to fetch home my wife, I stopped 
at the great Coffee-house * there, where I never was 
before : where Dryden, the poet, I knew at Cambridge, 
and all the wits of the town, and Harris the player, and 
Mr. Hoole, of our College. And, had I had time then, 
or could at other times, it will be good coming thither, 
for there, I perceive, is very witty and pleasant discourse. 
But I could not tarry, and, as it was late, they were all 
ready to go away. 

1 This was Wills' Coffee House, where Dryden had a chair reserved for 
him near the fireplace in winter, and which was carried into the balcony 
for him in summer. It was on the west side of Bow Street, and at the 
corner of Russell Street, and took its name from " William Urwin," the 
landlord. — Handbook of London, p. 554, edit. 1850. 



IO9 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 



THE HABILIMENTS OF MR. PEPYS 

July I, 1660. 

(Lord's day.) Infinite of business, my heart and head 
full. Met with Purser Washington, with whom and a 
lady, a friend of his, I dined at the Bell Tavern in King 
Street, but the rogue had no more manners than to invite 
me and let me pay my club. This morning come home 
my fine camlet cloak, with gold buttons, and a silk suit, 
which cost me much money, and I pray God to make 
me able to pay for it. In the afternoon to the Abbey, 
where a good sermon by a stranger, but no Common 
Prayer yet. 

May 11, 1661. 

To Graye's Inn, and there to a barber's, where I was 
trimmed and had my haire cutt, in which I am lately 
become a little curious, finding that the length of it do 
become me very much. 

November 1, 1663. 

(Lord's day.) This morning my brother's man brought 
me a new black baize waiste-coate, faced with silk, 

no 



THE HABILIMENTS OF MR. PEPYS 

which I put on, from this day laying by half-shirts for 
this winter. He brought me also my new gown of 
purple shagg : also, as a gift from my brother, a velvet 
hat, very fine to ride in, and the fashion, which 
pleases me. 

November 3, 1663. 

Home, and by and by comes Chapman, the periwigg- 
maker, and upon my liking it, without more ado I went 
up, and there he cut off my haire, which went a little to 
my heart at present to part with it ; but, it being over, 
and my periwigg on, I paid him ^3 for it ; and away 
went he, with my own haire, to make up another of ; 
and I, by and by, went abroad, after I had caused all my 
maids to look upon it ; and they conclude it do become 
me ; though Jane was mightily troubled for my parting 
of my own haire, and so was Besse. 

November 8, 1 663. 

(Lord's day.) To church, where I found that my 
coming in a perriwigg did not prove so strange as I was 
afraid it would, for I thought that all the church would 
presently have cast their eyes all upon me, but I found no 
such thing. 

November 9, 1663. 

To the Duke, where, when we come into his closet, 
he told us that Mr. Pepys was so altered with his new 
perriwigg that he did not know him. 

ill 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

November 13, 1663. 

After dinner, come my perriwigg-maker, and brings 
me a second periwigg, made of my own hair, which 
comes to 21s. 6d. more than the worth of my own hair, 
so that they both come to £4. is. 6d., which he sayth 
will serve me two years, but I fear it. He being gone, I 
to my office, and put on my new shagg purple gown, 
with gold buttons and loop-lace. 

May 1, 1669. 

Up betimes. Called by my tailor, and there first put 
on a summer suit this year ; but it was not my fine one 
of flowered tabby vest, and coloured camelott tunique, 
because it was too fine with the gold lace at the bands, 
that I was afraid to be seen in it ; but put on the stuff 
suit I made the last year, which is now repaired ; and so 
did go to the Office in it, and sat all the morning, the 
day looking as if it would be fowle. At noon home to 
dinner, and there find my wife extraordinary fine, with 
her flowered tabby gown that she made two years ago, 
now laced exceeding pretty ; and, indeed, was fine all 
over ; and mighty earnest to go, though the day was 
very lowering ; and she would have me put on my fine 
suit, which I did. And so anon we went alone through 
the town with our new liveries of serge, and the horses' 
manes and tails tied with red ribbons, and the standards 
gilt with varnish, and all clean, and green reines, that 
people did mightily look upon us ; and, the truth is, I 
did not see any coach more pretty, though more gay, 
than our's, all the day. 

112 



MR. PEPYS AS A HOST 



MR. PEPYS AS A HOST 

December 18, 1662. 

Mr. Coventry inviting himself to my house to dinner, 
of which I was proud ; but my dinner being a legg ot 
mutton and two capons, they were not done enough, 
which did vex me ; but we made shift to please him, 
I think ; but I, when he was gone, very angry with 
my wife and people. 

January 13, 1662-63. 

My poor wife rose by five o'clock in the morning, 
before day, and went to market and bought fowles and 
many other things for dinner, with which I was highly 
pleased, and the chine of beef was down also before six 
o'clock, and my own jacke, of which I was doubtfull, 
do carry it very well, things being put in order, and the 
cook come. By and by comes Dr. Clerke and his lady, 
his sister, and a she-cosen, and Mr. Pierce and his wife, 
which was all my guests. I had for them, after oysters, 
at first course, a hash of rabbits and lamb, and a rare 
chine of beef. Next, a great dish of roasted fowle, cost 
me about 30s., and a tart, and then fruit and cheese. 

113 1 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

My dinner was noble, and enough. I had my house 
mighty clean and neat; my room below with a good 
fire in it ; my dining-room above, and my chamber being 
made a withdrawing-chamber ; and my wife's a good 
fire, also. I find my new table very proper, and will 
hold nine or ten people well, but eight with great room. 
At supper, had a good sack posset and cold meat, and 
sent my guests away about ten o'clock at night, both 
them and myself highly pleased with our management of 
this day; and indeed their company was very fine, and 
Mrs. Clerke a very witty, fine lady, though a little 
conceited and proud. I believe this day's feast will cost 
me near £$. 

January 8, 1663-64. 

By appointment, took Luellin, Mount, and W. 
Symons, and Mr. Pierce, the surgeon, home to dinner 
with me, and were merry. We spent all the afternoon 
together, and then to cards with my wife, who this day 
put on her Indian blue gown, which is very pretty. 
We had great pleasure this afternoon, among other 
things, to talk of our old passages together in Cromwell's 
time ; and how W. Symons did make me laugh and 
wonder to-day when he told me how he had made shift 
to keep in, in good esteem and employment, through 
eight governments in one year, the year 1659, which 
were indeed, and he did name them all ; and then failed 
unhappy in the ninth, viz., that of the King's coming in. 
He made good to me the story which Luellin did tell me 
the other day, of his wife upon her death-bed ; how she 

114 



MR. PEPYS AS A HOST 



dreamt of her uncle Scobell, and did foretell, from some 
discourse she had with him, that she should die four days 
thence, and not sooner, and did all along say so, and 
did so. 

September 9, 1664. 

Up, and put things in order against dinner. I out 
and bought some things : among others, a dozen of silver 
salts ; and at noon comes my company, namely, Anthony 
and Will Joyce and their wives ; my aunt James, newly 
come out of Wales, and my cozen Sarah Gyles. 1 Her 
husband did not come ; and by her I did understand, 
afterwards, that it was because he was not able to pay 
me the 40s. she had borrowed a year ago of me. I was 
as merry as I could, giving them a good dinner ; but 
W. Joyce did so talk, that he made everybody else 
dumb, but only laugh at him. I forgot there was Mr. 
Harman and his wife, my aunt, a very good harmless 
woman. All their talk is of her and my two she-cozen 
Joyces, and Will's little boy Will, who was also here 
to-day. They eyed mightily my great cupboard of 
plate — I this day putting my two flaggons upon my 
table ; and indeed it is a fine sight, and better than ever 
I did hope to see of my own. Mercer dined with us at 
table, this being her first dinner in my house. After 
dinner, my wife and Mercer, and Tom and I, sat till 

1 Pepys would have been more proud of his cousin had he anticipated her 
husband's becoming a Knight, for she was probably the same person whose 
burial is recorded in the register of St. Helen's, Bishopsgate, September 4, 
1704 : "Dame Sarah Gyles, widow, relict of Sir John Gyles." 

"5 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

eleven at night, singing and fiddling, and a great joy it 
is to see me master of so much pleasure in my house. 
The girle plays pretty well upon the harpsichon, but 
only ordinary tunes, but hath a good hand : sings a 
little, but hath a good voyce and eare. My boy, a brave 
boy, sings finely, and is the most pleasant boy at present, 
while his ignorant boy's tricks last, that ever I saw. 

January 24, 1666-67. 

I home, where most of my company come of this end 
of the town — Mercer and her sister, Mr. Batelier and 
Pembleton, my Lady Pen, and Pegg, and Mr. Lowther, 
but did not stay long and I believe it was by Sir W. 
Pen's order ; for they had a great mind to have staid, 
and also Captain Rolt. And anon, at about seven or 
eight o'clock, comes Mr. Harris, of the Duke's play- 
house, and brings Mrs. Pierce with him, and also one 
dressed like a country-maid with a straw hat on ; and, 
at first, I could not tell who it was, though I expected 
Knipp : but it was she coming off the stage just as she 
acted this day in " The Goblins" ; a merry jade. Now 
my house is full, and four fiddlers that play well. Harris 
I first took to my closet ; and I find him a very curious 
and understanding person in all pictures and other things, 
and a man of fine conversation ; and so is Rolt. So 
away with all my company down to the office, and there 
fell to dancing, and continued at it an hour or two, there 
coming Mrs. Anne Jones, a merchant's daughter hard 
by, who dances well, and all in mighty good humour, and 
danced with great pleasure ; and then sung and then 

116 



MR. PEPYS AS A HOST 



danced, and then sung many things of three voices — both 
Harris and Rolt singing their parts excellently. Among 
other things, Harris sung his Irish song — the strangest in 
itself, and the prettiest sung by him, that ever I heard. 
Then to supper in the Office, a cold, good supper, and 
wondrous merry. Here was Mrs. Turner, also, and 
Mrs. Markham : after supper to dancing again and sing- 
ing, and so continued till almost three in the morning, 
and then, with extraordinary pleasure, broke up — only 
towards morning, Knipp fell a little ill, and so my wife 
home with her to put her to bed, and we continued 
dancing and singing ; and, among other things, our 
Mercer unexpectedly did happen to sing an Italian song 
I know not, of which they two sung the other two 
parts — two that did almost ravish me, and made me in 
love with her more than ever with her singing. As late 
as it was, yet Rolt and Harris would go home to-night, 
and walked it, though I had a bed for them ; and it 
proved dark, and a misty night, and very windy. The 
company being all gone to their homes, I up with Mrs. 
Pierce to Knipp, who was in bed ; and we waked her, 
and sung a song, and then left my wife to see Mrs. 
Pierce in bed to her, in our best chamber, and so to bed 
myself, my mind mightily satisfied ; only the musique 
did not please me, they not being contented with less 
than 30s. 

April 8, 1667. 

Home, and there find all things in readiness for a good 
dinner. By and by come my guests, Dr. Clerke and his 

117 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

wife, and Mrs. Worshipp, and her daughter ; and then 
Mr. Pierce and his wife, and boy, and Betty ; and then 
I sent for Mercer ; so that we had, with my wife and I, 
twelve at table, and very good and pleasant company, 
and a most neat and excellent, but dear dinner ; but, 
Lord ! to see with what way they looked upon all my 
fine plate was pleasant ; for I made the best show I 
could, to let them understand me and my condition, to 
take down the pride of Mrs. Clerke, who thinks herself 
very great. We sat long ; and, after dinner, went out 
by coaches, thinking to have seen a play, but come too 
late to both houses, and then they had thoughts of going 
abroad somewhere ; but I thought all the charge ought 
to be mine, and therefore I endeavoured to part the 
company ; and so ordered it to set them all down at 
Mrs. Pierce's ; and there my wife and I and Mercer left 
them in good humour, and we three to the King's house, 
and saw the latter end of "The Surprisall," wherein was 
no great matter. Thence away to Polichinello, and 
there had three times more sport than at the play, and 
so home. 

September u, 1667. 

Come to dine with me Sir W. Batten and his lady, 
and Mr. Griffith, their ward, and Sir W. Pen and his 
lady, and Mrs. Lowther, who is grown, either through 
pride or want of manners, a fool, h-aving not a word to 
say ; and, as a further mark of a beggarly, proud fool, 
hath a bracelet of diamonds and rubies about her wrist, 
and a sixpenny necklace about her neck, and not one 

118 



MR. PEPYS AS A HOST 



good rag of clothes upon her back ; and Sir John 
Chichly in their company, and Mrs. Turner. Here I 
had an extraordinary good and handsome dinner for 
them, better than any of them deserve or understand, 
saving Sir John Chichly and Mrs. Turner, and not much 
mirth, only what I by discourse made, and that against 
my genius. 



119 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 



MR. PEPYS AND HIS PATRON, LORD 
SANDWICH 

November 14, 1663. 

Mr. Moore come to tell me that he had no opportunity 
of speaking his mind to my Lord yesterday, and so I am 
resolved to write to him very suddenly. 

November 15, 1663. 

(Lord's day.) In the afternoon, drew up a letter to 
my Lord, stating to him what the world talks concerning 
him, and leaving it to him and myself to be thought of 
by him as he pleases, but I have done but my duty in 
it. I wait Mr. Moore's coming, for his advice about 
sending it. 

November 18, 1663. 

This morning I sent WilKwith my great letter 01 
reproof to Lord Sandwich, who did give it into his own 
hand. I pray God give a blessing to it; but I confess 
I am afraid what the consequences may be to me of 
good or bad, which is according to the ingenuity that he 
do receive it with. However, I am satisfied that it will 
do him good, and that he needs it. 

120 




EDWARD, FIRST EARL OF SANDWICH. 
From an engraving after Sir P. Lely. 



MR. PEPYS AND HIS PATRON, LORD SANDWICH 

[Here follows the letter.] 
My Lord, 

I do verily hope, that neither the manner nor matter 
of this advice will be condemned by your Lordship, 
when, for my defence in the first, I shall alledge my 
double attempt, since your return from Hinchingbroke, 
of doing it personally, in both of which your Lordship's 
occasions, no doubtfulness of mine, prevented me ; and 
that being now fearful of a sudden summons to Ports- 
mouth, for the discharge of some ships there, I judge it 
very unbecoming the duty which every bit of bread I eat 
tells me I owe to your Lordship to expose the safety ot 
your honour to the safety of my return. For the matter, 
my Lord, it is such as, could I in any measure think 
safe to conceal from, or likely to be discovered to you by 
any other hand, I should not have dared so far to own 
what from my heart I believe is false, as to make myself 
the relater but of others' discourse ; but, sir, your 
Lordship's honour being such as I ought to value it to 
be, and finding both in city and court that discourses 
pass to your prejudice, too generally for mine or any 
man's controllings but your Lordship's, I shall, my Lord, 
without the least greatening or lessening the matter, do 
my duty in laying it shortly before you. 

People of all conditions, my Lord, raise matter of 
wonder from your Lordship's so little appearance at 
Court: some concluding thence their disfavour thereby, 
to which purpose I have had questions asked me ; and, 
endeavouring to put off such insinuations by asserting 
the contrary, they have replied, that your Lordship's 

121 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

living so beneath your quality, out of the way, and 
declining of court attendance, hath been more than once 
discoursed about the King. Others, my Lord, when 
the chief Ministers of State, and those most active of the 
Council have been reckoned up, wherein your Lordship 
never used to want an eminent place, have said, touching 
your Lordship, that now your turn was served, and the 
King had given you a good estate, you left him to stand 
or fall as he would, and, particularly in that of the 
Navy, have enlarged upon your letting fall all service 
there. 

Another sort, and those the most, insist upon the bad 
report of the house wherein your Lordship, now observed 
in perfect health again, continues to sojourne, and by 
name have charged one of the daughters for a common 
courtizan, alledging both places and persons where and 
with whom she hath been too well known, and how 
much her wantonness occasions, though unjustly, scandal 
to your Lordship, and that as well to gratifying some 
enemies, as to the wounding of more friends I am not 
able to tell. 

Lastly, my Lord, I find a general coldness in all 
persons towards your Lordship, such as, from my first 
dependance on you, I never knew, wherein I shall not 
offer to interpose any thoughts or advice of mine, well 
knowing your Lordship needs not any. But with a 
most faithful assurance, that no person nor papers under 
Heaven is privy to what I here write, besides myself and 
this, which I shall be careful to have put into your own 
hands, I rest confident of your Lordship's just construc- 

122 



MR. PEPYS AND HIS PATRON, LORD SANDWICH 

tion of my dutifull intentions herein, and in all humility 
take my leave. May it please your Lordship, 

Your Lordship's most obedient Servant, 

S. P. 
[The foregoing letter was sealed up and enclosed in 
the following.] 

My Lord, 
If this find your Lordship either not alone, or not at 
leisure, I beg the suspending your opening the enclosed 
till you shall have both, the matter very well bearing 
such a delay, and in all humility remain, &c. 

November 17th, 1663. S. P. 

My servant hath my directions to put this into your 
Lordship's own hand, but not to stay for any answer. 

November 20, 1663. 

To my Lord Sandwich's lodgings, but he was gone 
out before, and so I am defeated of my expectation of 
being eased one way or other in the business of my Lord. 
But I up to Mr. Howe, who I saw this day for the first 
time in a periwigg, which becomes him very well. He 
tells me that my Lord is of a sudden much changed, and 
he do believe that he do take my letter well. However, 
we both bless God that it hath so good an effect upon 
him. Thence I home again. 

November 22, 1 663. 

(Lord's day.) I walked as far as the Temple, and 
there took coach, and to my Lord's lodgings, whom 

123 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

I found ready to go to Chappell ; but I coming, he 
begun, with a very serious countenance, to tell me that 
he had received my late letter, wherein first he took 
notice of my care of him and his honour, and did give 
me thanks for that part of it where I say that rrom my 
heart I believe the contrary of what I do there relate to 
be the discourse of others ; but, since I intended it not a 
reproach, but matter of information, and for him to make 
a judgement of it for his practice, it was necessary for 
me to tell him the persons of whom I have gathered the 
several particulars which I there insist on. I would have 
made excuses in it ; but, seeing him so earnest in it, I 
found myself forced to it, and so did tell him Mr. Pierce, 
the surgeon, in that of his Lordship's living being dis- 
coursed of at court. A maid-servant that I kept, that 
lived at Chelsey school, and also Mr. Pickering, about 
the report touching the young woman, and also Mr. 
Hunt, in Axe Yard, near whom she lodged. I told him 
the whole city do discourse concerning his neglect of 
business ; and so I many times asserting my dutiful 
intention in all this, and he owning his accepting or 
it as such. That that troubled me most in particular 
is, that he did there assert the civility of the people 
of the house, and the young gentlewoman, for whose 
reproach he was sorry. His saying that he was resolved 
how to live, and that though he was taking a house, 
meaning to live in another manner, yet it was not to 
please any people, or stop report, but to please himselt, 
though this I do believe he might say that he might not 
seem to me to be so much wrought upon by what I have 

124 



MR. PEPYS AND HIS PATRON, LORD SANDWICH 

writ ; and lastly, and most of all, when I spoke or the 
tenderness that I have used in declaring this to him, there 
being nobody privy to it, he told me that I must give 
him leave to except one. I told him, that possibly some- 
body might know of some thoughts of mine — I having 
borrowed some intelligence in this matter from them, 
but nobody could say that they knew of the thing itself 
what I writ. This, I confess, however, do trouble me, 
for that he seemed to speak it as a quick retort, and it 
must sure be Will. Howe, who did not see anything of 
what I writ, though I told him indeed that I would 
write ; but in this, methinks, there is no great hurt. I 
find him, though he cannot but own his opinion of my 
good intention, and so he did again and again profess it, 
that he is troubled in his mind at it ; and I confess I 
think I may have done myself an injury for his good, 
which, were it to do again, and that I believed he would 
take it no better, I think I should sit quietly without 
taking any notice of it ; for I doubt there is no medium 
between his taking it very well, or very ill. I could not 
forbear weeping before him at the latter end ; which, 
since, I am ashamed of, though I cannot see what he 
can take it to proceed from, but my tenderness and good 
will to him. After this discourse was ended, he begun 
to talk very cheerfully of other things, and I walked 
with him to White Hall, and we discoursed of the 
pictures in the gallery, which it may be he might do out 
of policy, that the boy might not see any strangeness in 
him ; but I rather think that his mind was somewhat 
eased, and hope that he will be to me as he was before. 

125 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

December 30, 1663. 

Up betimes. My Lord Sandwich did ask me how his 
cozen, my wife, did, the first time he hath done so since 
his being offended, and in my conscience he would be 
glad to be free with me again, but he knows not how to 
begin. 



126 



MR. PEPYS'S LOVE FOR MUSIC 



MR. PEPYS'S LOVE FOR MUSIC 

November 21, 1660. 

At night to my viallin (the first time that I have 
played on it since I come to this house) in my dining- 
roome, and afterwards to my lute there, and I took much 
pleasure to have the neighbours come forth into the yard 
to hear me. 

March 27, 1 66 1. 

To the Dolphin to a dinner of Mr. Harris's, where 
Sir Williams both, and my Lady Batten, and her two 
daughters, and other company, where a great deal of 
mirth, and there staid till eleven o'clock at night ; and in 
our mirth I sang and sometimes fiddled, (there being a 
noise of fiddlers there) and at last we fell to dancing, the 
first time that ever I did in my life, which I did wonder 
to see myself do. 

July 27, 1 66 1. 

To Westminster, where, at Mr. Montagu's chamber, 
I heard a Frenchman play, a friend of Monsieur Eschar's, 
upon the guitar most extreme well, though at best 
methinks it is but a bawble. 

127 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

February 24, 1661-62. 

Long with Mr. Berkenshaw in the morning at my 
musique practice, finishing my song of " Gaze not on 
swans," in two parts, which pleases me well, and I did 
give him ^5 for this month or five weeks that he 
hath taught me, which is a great deal of money, and 
troubled me to part with it. 

May 5, 1666. 

It being a very fine moonshine, my wife and Mercer 
come into the garden, and, my business being done, we 
sang till about twelve at night, with mighty pleasure to 
ourselves and neighbours, by their casements opening. 

July 28, 1666. 

Went to my Lord Lauderdale's house to speak with 
him, and find him and his lady, and some Scotch people, 
at supper : pretty odd company, though, my Lord 
Brouncker tells me, my Lord Lauderdale is a man of 
mighty good reason and judgement. But at supper 
there played one of their servants upon the viallin some 
Scotch tunes only ; several, and the best of their country, 
as they seemed to esteem them, by their praising and 
admiring them : but, Lord ! the strangest ayre that ever 
I heard in my life, and all of one cast. But strange to 
hear my Lord Lauderdale say himself that he had rather 
hear a cat mew, than the best musique in the world ; and 
the better the musique, the more sick it makes him ; 
and that of all instruments, he hates the lute the most, 
and, next to that, the baggpipe. 

128 



MR. PEPYS'S LOVE FOR MUSIC 

October 6, 1666. 

This morning my wife told me of a fine gentlewoman 
my Lady Pen tells her of, for £20 per annum, that 
sings, dances, plays on four or five instruments, and many 
other fine things, which pleases me mightily : and she 
sent to have her see her, which she did this afternoon, but 
sings basely, and is a tawdry wench that would take ^8 — 
but [neither] my wife nor I think her fit to come. 

February 12, 1666-67. 

With my Lord Brouncker by coach to his house, there 
to hear some Italian musique : and here we met Tom 
Killigrew, Sir Robert Murray, and the Italian Signor 
Baptista, * who hath proposed a play in Italian for the 
Opera, which T. Killigrew do intend to have up ; and 
here he did sing one of the acts. He himself is the poet 
as well as the musician ; which is very much, and did 
sing the whole from the words without any musique 
prickt, and played all along upon a harpsicon most 
admirably, and the composition most excellent. The 
words I did not understand, and so know not how they 
are fitted, but believe very well, and all in the recitativo 
very fine. But I perceive there is a proper accent in 
every country's discourse, and that do reach in their 
setting of notes to words, which, therefore, cannot be 
natural to any body else but them ; so that I am not so 
much smitten with it as, it may be, I should be, if I 

1 Giovanni Baptista Draghi, an Italian musician in the service of 
Queen Catherine, and a composer of merit. — Hawkins's History of 
Music. 

120, K 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

were acquainted with their accent. But the whole 
composition is certainly most excellent ; and the 
poetry, T. Killigrew and Sir R. Murray, who under- 
stood the words, did say most excellent. I confess I 
was mightily pleased with the musique. He pretends 
not to voice, though it be good, but not excellent. This 
done, T. Killigrew and I to talk : and he tells me how 
the audience at his house is not above half so much as 
it used to be before the late fire. That Knipp is like to 
make the best actor that ever come upon the stage, she 
understanding so well : that they are going to give her 
^30 a-year more. That the stage is now by his pains a 
thousand times better and more glorious than ever here- 
tofore. Now, wax-candles, and many of them ; then, 
not above 3IDS. of tallow : now, all things civil, no 
rudeness anywhere ; then, as in a bear-garden : then, 
two or three fiddlers ; now, nine or ten of the best : then, 
nothing but rushes upon the ground, and every thing 
else mean ; now all otherwise : then, the Queen seldom 
and the King never would come ; now, not the King 
only for the state, but all civil people do think they may 
come as well as any. He tells me that he hath gone 
several times, eight or ten times, he tells me, hence to 
Rome, to hear good musique ; so much he loves it, 
though he never did sing or play a note. That he hath 
ever endeavoured in the late King's time, and in this, to 
introduce good musique, but he never could do it, there 
never having been any musique here better than ballads. 
And says, " Hermitt poore " and " Chiny Chese " * was 

1 Chevy Chase. 
130 



MR. PEPYS'S LOVE FOR MUSIC 

all the musique we had ; and yet no ordinary fiddlers 
get so much money as our's do here, which speaks our 
rudenesse still. That he hath gathered our Italians from 
several Courts in Christendome, to come to make a 
concert for the King, which he do give ^200 a-year 
a-piece to : but badly paid, and do come in the room of 
keeping four ridiculous gundilows, 1 he having got the 
King to put them away, and lay out money this way ; 
and indeed I do commend him for it, for I think it is 
a very noble undertaking. He do intend to have some 
times of the year these operas to be performed at the 
two present theatres, since he is defeated in what he 
intended in Moorefields on purpose for it ; and he tells 
me plainly that the City audience was as good as the 
Court, but now they are most gone. Baptista tells me 
that Giacomo Charissimi is still alive at Rome, who was 
master to Vinnecotio, who is one of the Italians that the 
King hath here, and the chief composer of them. My 
great wonder is, how this man do to keep in memory so 
perfectly the musique of the whole act, both for the 
voice and the instrument too. I confess I do admire it : 
but in recitativo the sense much helps him, for there is 
but one proper way of discoursing and giving the accents. 
Having done our discourse, we all took coaches, my 
Lord's and T. Killigrew's, and to Mrs. Knipp's chamber, 
where this Italian is to teach her to sing her part. And 
so we all thither, and there she did sing an Italian song 
or two very fine, while he played the bass upon a 
harpsicon there ; and exceedingly taken I am with her 

1 Gondolas. 
'3 1 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

singing > and believe that she will do miracles at that and 
acting. Her little girl is mighty pretty and witty. 

March 12, 1667. 

Up and to the Office, where all the morning. At 
noon home, and there find Mr. Goodgroome, whose 
teaching of my wife only by singing over and over again 
to her, and letting her sing with him, not by herself, to 
correct her faults, I do not like at all, but was angry at 
it ; but have this content, that I do think she will come 
to sing pretty well, and to trill in time, which pleases 
me well. 

September 8, 1667. 

I went to the King's Chapel to the closet, and there I 
heard Cresset sing a tenor part along with the Church 
musick very handsomely, but so loud that people did laugh 
at him, as a thing done for ostentation. 

October 1, 1667. 

To White Hall ; and there in the Boarded Gallery did 
hear the musick with which the King is presented this 
night by Monsieur Grebus, 1 the master of his musick ; 
both instrumentall — I think twenty four violins — and 
vocall ; an English song upon Peace. But, God forgive 
me ! I never was so little pleased with a concert of 

1 Louis Grabut or Grabu, a French composer, and Master of the King's 
band, whom Charles had the bad taste to prefer to Purcell. In 1685, 
Dryden's opera of Albion and Albanius was set to music by Grabut ; but 
the piece did not succeed, and the favourers of the English school triumphed 
in its downfall. — Dryden's Works, vol. vii. p. 212. 

132 



MR. PEPYS'S LOVE FOR MUSIC 

musick in my life. The manner of setting of words and 
repeating them out of order, and that with a number of 
voices, makes me sick, the whole design of vocall musick 
being lost by it. Here was a great press of people ; but 
I did not see many pleased with it, only the instrumental 
musick he had brought by practice to play very just. 

yanuary 20, 1667-68. 

To Drumbleby's, the pipe-maker, there to advise about 
the making of a flageolet to go low and soft ; and he do 
show me a way which do do, and also a fashion of having 
two pipes of the same note fastened together, so as I can 
play on one, and then echo it upon the other, which is 
mighty pretty. 

February 27, 1667—68. 

With my wife to the King's House, to see " The 
Virgin Martyr," the first time it hath been acted a great 
while : and it is mighty pleasant ; not that the play is 
worth much, but it is finely acted by Beck Marshall. 
But that which did please me beyond any thing in the 
whole world was the wind-musick when the angel 
comes down, which is so sweet that it ravished me, and 
indeed, in a word, did wrap up my soul so that it made 
me really sick, just as I have formerly been when in love 
with my wife ; that neither then, nor all the evening 
going home, and at home, I was able to think of any 
thing, but remained all night transported, so as I could 
not believe that ever any musick hath that real command 
over the soul of a man as this did upon me : and makes 

133 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

me resolve to practice wind-musick, and to make my wife 
do the like. 

January u, 1668-69. 
Home ; and there all the evening ; and made Tom to 
prick down some little conceits and notions of mine, in 
musick, which do mightily encourage me to spend some 
more thoughts about it ; for I fancy, upon good reason, 
that I am in the right way of unfolding the mystery of 
this matter, better than ever yet. 






134 



MR. PEPYS THE OBSERVER 



MR. PEPYS THE OBSERVER 

October 13, 1660. 

I went out to Charing Cross, to see Major-General 
Harrison x hanged, drawn, and quartered ; which was 
done there, he looking as cheerful as any man could do 
in that condition. He was presently cut down, and his 
head and heart shown to the people, at which there was 
J great shouts of joy. It is said, that he said that he was 
sure to come shortly at the right hand of Christ to judge 
them that now had judged him ; and that his wife do 
expect his coming again. Thus it was my chance to see 
the King beheaded at White Hall, and to see the first 
blood shed in revenge for the King at Charing Cross. 

June 14, 1662. 

Up by four o'clock in the morning, and upon business 

at my office. Then we sat down to business, and about 

1 1 o'clock, having a room got ready for us, we all went 

out to the Tower-hill ; and there, over against the scaf- 

1 Thomas Harrison, appointed by Cromwell to convey Charles I. from 
Windsor to White Hall, in order to his trial, and afterwards sat as one of 
his judges. 

!35 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

fold, made on purpose this day, saw Sir Henry Vane 
brought. A very great press of people. He made a long 
speech, many times interrupted by the Sheriffe and others 
there ; and they would have taken his paper out of his 
hand, but he would not let it go. But they caused all 
the books of those that writ after him [i.e., the reporters] 
to be given the Sheriffe ; and the trumpets were brought 
under the scaffold that he might not be heard. Then he 
prayed, and so fitted himself, and received the blow ; but 
the scaffold was so crowded that we could not see it done. 
But Boreman, who had been upon the scaffold, told us, 
that first he began to speak of the irregular proceeding 
against him ; that he was, against Magna Charta, denied 
to have his exceptions against the indictment allowed ; 
and that there he was stopped by the Sheriffe. Then he 
drew out his paper of notes, and begun to tell them first 
his life ; that he was born a gentleman ; he had been, 
till he was seventeen years old, a good fellow, but then it 
pleased God to lay a foundation of grace in his heart, by 
which he was persuaded, against his worldly interest, 
to leave all preferment and go abroad, where he might 
serve God with more freedom. Then he was called 
home, and made a member of the Long Parliament ; 
where he never did, to this day, any thing against his 
conscience, but all for the glory of God. Here he would 
have given them an account of the proceedings of the 
Long Parliament, but they so often interrupted him, that 
at last he was forced to give over : and so fell into prayer 
for England in generall, then for the churches in England, 
and then for the City of London : and so fitted himself 

136 



MR. PEPYS THE OBSERVER 



for the block, and received the blow. He had a blister, 
or issue, upon his neck, which he desired them not to 
hurt : he changed not his colour or speech to the last, but 
died justifying himself and the cause he had stood for ; 
and spoke very confidently of his being presently at the 
right hand of Christ ; and in all things appeared the most 
resolved man that ever died in that manner, and showed 
more of heate than cowardice, but yet with all humility 
and gravity. One asked him why he did not pray for 
the King. He answered, ft You shall see I can pray for 
the King : I pray God bless him ! " The King had given 
his body to his friends ; and, therefore, he told them that 
he hoped they would be civil to his body when dead ; and 
desired they would let him die like a gentleman and a 
Christian, and not crowded and pressed as he was. 

September 3, 1662. 

After dinner, we met and sold the Weymouth, 
Successe, and Fellowship hulkes, where pleasant to see 
how backward men are at first to bid ; and yet, when 
the candle is going out, how they bawl, and dispute 
afterwards who bid the most first. And here I ob- 
served one man cunninger than the rest, that was 
sure to bid the last man, and to carry it ; and, inquiring the 
reason, he told me that, just as the flame goes out, the 
smoke descends, which is a thing I never observed before, 
and by that he do know the instant when to bid last. 

December I, 1 662. 

To my Lord Sandwich's, to Mr. Moore ; and then 
J 37 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

over the Parke, where I first in my life, it being a 
great frost, did see people sliding with their skeates, 
which is a very pretty art. 

December 15, 1662. 

To the Duke, and followed him into the Park, 
where though the ice was broken and dangerous, yet 
he would go slide upon his scates, which I did not 
like, but he slides very well. 

December 28, 1663. 
Walking through White Hall, I heard the King 
was gone to play at Tennis, so I down to the New 
Tennis Court and saw him and Sir Arthur Slingsby 
play against my Lord of Suffolke and my Lord 
Chesterfield. The King beat three, and lost two sets, 
they all, and he particularly, playing well, I thought. 

July 20, 1664. 
To White Hall, to the Committee for Fishing ; but 
nothing done, it being a great day to-day there upon 
drawing at the Lottery of Sir Arthur Slingsby. I got 
in, and stood by the two Queens and the Duchess of 
York, and just behind my Lady Castlemaine, whom I 
do heartily admire ; and good sport to see how most 
that did give their ten pounds did go away with a 
pair of gloves only for their lot, and one gentlewoman, 
one Mrs. Fish, with the only blanke. And one I 
staid to see draw a suit of hangings valued at ^430, 
and they say are well worth the money, or near it. One 

138 



MR. PEPYS THE OBSERVER 



other suit there is better than that ; but very many lots 
of three and fourscore pounds. I observed the King and 
Queen did get but as poor lots as any else. But the 
wisest man I met with was Mr. Cholmley, who insured 
as many as would, from drawing of the one blank for 
1 2d. ; in which case there was the whole number of 
persons to one, which, I think, was three or four hundred. 
And so he insured about 200 for 200 shillings, so that he 
could not have lost if one of them had drawn it ; for 
there was enough to pay the j£io, but it happened 
another drew it, and so he got all the money he took. 

August 7, 1664. 
I saw several poor creatures carried by, by constables, 
for being at a conventicle. They go like lambs, without 
\y any resistance. I would to God they would either con- 
form, or be more wise, and not be catched ! 

December 25, 1665. 
(Christmas day.) To church in the morning, and 
there saw a wedding in the church, which I have not 
seen many a day ; and the young people so merry one 
with another ! and strange to see what delight we married 
people have to see these poor fools decoyed into our con- 
dition, every man and woman gazing and smiling at them. 

June 25, 1666. 

Mrs. Pen carried us to two gardens at Hackny, which 
I every day grow more and more in love with, Mr. 
Drake's, one, where the garden is good, and house and 

*39 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

the prospect admirable ; the other my Lord Brooke's, 
where the gardens are much better, but the house not so 
good, nor the prospect good at all. But the gardens are 
excellent ; and here I first saw oranges grow : some 
green, some half, some a quarter, and some full ripe, on 
the same tree ; and one fruit of the same tree do come a 
year or two after the other. I pulled off a little one by 
stealth, the man being mightily curious of them, and eat 
it, and it was just as other little green small oranges are ; 
as big as half the end of my little finger. Here were 
also great variety of other exotique plants, and several 
labyrinths, and a pretty aviary. This being the first day 
of my putting on my black stuff bombazin suit. 

January 23, 1666-67. 

To St. James's, to see the organ Mrs. Turner told 
me of the other night, of my late Lord Aubigney's ; 
and I took my Lord Brouncker with me, he being 
acquainted with my present Lord Almoner, Mr. Howard, 
brother to the Duke of Norfolke ; so he and I did see 
the organ, but I do not like it, it being but a bauble, 
with a virginal joining to it : so I shall not meddle with 
it. The Almoner seems a good-natured gentleman : 
here I observed the deske which he hath, [made] to 
remove, and is fastened to one of the armes of his chayre. 
I do also observe the counterfeit windows there was, in 
the form of doors with looking-glasses instead or 
windows, which makes the room seem both bigger and 
lighter, I think ; and I have some thoughts to have the 
like in one of my rooms. He discoursed much of the 

140 



MR. PEPYS THE OBSERVER 



goodness of the musique in Rome, but could not tell me 
how long musique had been in any perfection in that 
church, which I would be glad to know. He speaks 
much of the great buildings that this Pope [Alex- 
ander VII.], whom, in mirth to us, he calls Antichrist, 
hath done in his time. Away, and my Lord and I 
walking into the Park, I did observe the new buildings : 
and my Lord, seeing I had a desire to see them, they 
being the place for the priests and fryers, he took me 
back to my Lord Almoner ; and he took us quite 
through the whole house and chapel, and the new 
monastery, showing me most excellent pieces in wax- 
worke : a crucifix given by a Pope to Mary Queen of 
Scotts, where a piece of the Cross is ; J two bits set in 
the manner of a cross in the foot of the crucifix : several 

1 Pieces of " the Cross " were formerly held in such veneration, and were 
so common, that it has been often said enough existed to build a ship. 
Most readers will remember the distinction which Sir W. Scott represents 
Louis XI. (with great appreciation of that monarch's character) as drawing 
between an oath taken on a false piece and one taken on a piece of the true 
Cross. Sir Thomas More, a very devout believer in relics, says {Workt, 
p. 119) that, "Luther wished in a sermon of his, that he had in his hand 
all the pieces of the Holy Cross ; and said that if he so had, he would 
throw them there as never sun should shine on them ; — and for what 
worshipful reason would the wretch do such villany to the cross of Christ ? 
Because, as he saith, that there is so much gold now bestowed about the 
garnishing of the pieces of the Cross, that there is none left for poore folke. 
Is not this a high reason ? As though all the gold that is now bestowed 
about the pieces of the Holy Cross would not have failed to have been given 
to poor men, if they had not been bestowed about the garnishing of the 
Cross ! and as though there were nothing lost, but what is bestowed about 
Christ's Cross ! " Wolsey, says Cavendish, on his fall, gave to Norris, who 
brought him a ring of gold as a token of good will from Henry, " a little 
chaine of gold, made like a bottle chain, with a cross of gold, wherein was 

141 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

fine pictures, but especially very good prints of holy 
pictures. I saw the dortoire x and the cells ot the priests, 
and we went into one ; a very pretty little room, very 
clean, hung with pictures, set with books. The Priest 
was in his cell, with his hair clothes to his skin, bare- 
legged, with a sandall only on, and his little bed without 
sheets, and no feather-bed ; but yet, I thought, soft 
enough. His cord about his middle ; but in so good 
company, living with ease, I thought it a very good life. 
A pretty library they have. And I was in the refectoire, 
where every man his napkin, knife, cup of earth, and 
basin of the same ; and a place for one to sit and read 
while the rest are at meals. And into the kitchen I 
went, where a good neck of mutton at the fire, and 
other victuals boiling. I do not think they fared very 
hard. Their windows all looking into a fine garden and 
the Park ; and mighty pretty rooms all. I wished my- 
self one of the Capuchins. So away with the Almoner 
in his coach, talking merrily about the difference in our 
religions, to White Hall, and there we left him. 

January 27, 1666-67. 

Walked to White Hall, and there I showed my cozen 

a piece of the Holy Cross, which he continually wore about his neck, next 
his body ; and said, furthermore, 'Master Norris, I assure you, when I was 
in prosperity, although it seem but small in value, yet I would not gladly 
have departed with the same for a thousand pounds.'" — Life, ed. 1852, 
p. 167. Evelyn mentions, Diary, 17th Nov., 1664, that he saw in one of the 
chapels in St. Peter's a crucifix with a piece of the true cross in it. Among 
the jewels of Mary Queen of Scots was a cross of gold, which had been 
pledged to Hume of Blackadder for £1,000. — Chalmer's Life, vol. i. p. 31. 
1 Dormitory. 

142 



MR. PEPYS THE OBSERVER 



Roger the Duchess of York sitting in state, while 
her own mother stands by her ; and my Lady Castle- 
maine, whom he approves to be very handsome, and 
wonders that she cannot be as good within as she is fair 
without. Her little black boy come by him ; and, a 
dog being in his way, the little boy swore at the dog : 
" How," says he, blessing himself, " would I whip this 
child till the blood come, if it were my child ! " and I 
believe he would. 

February 17, 1666-67. 

This evening, going to the Queen's side to see the 
ladies, I did find the Queen, the Duchess of York, and 
another or two, at cards, with the room full of great 
ladies and men ; which I was amazed at to see on a 
Sunday, having not believed it ; but, contrarily, flatly 
denied the same a little while since to my cozen Roger 
Pepys. 

May 10, 1667. 

At noon to Kent's, at the Three Tuns' Tavern : and 
there the constable of the parish did show us the pick- 
locks and dice that were found in the dead man's pocket, 
and but i8d. in money ; and a table-book, wherein were 
entered the names of several places where he was to go ; 
and among others Kent's house, where he was to dine, 
and did dine yesterday ; and after dinner went into the 
church, and there saw his corpse with the wound in his 
left breast ; a sad spectacle, and a broad wound, which 
makes my hand now shake to write of it. His brother 

H3 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

intending, it seems, to kill the coachman, who did not 
please him, this fellow stepped in, and took away his 
sword ; who thereupon took out his knife, which was of 
the fashion, with a falchion blade, and a little cross at 
the hilt like a dagger; and with that stabbed him. 
Drove hard towards Clerkenwell, thinking to have over- 
taken my Lady Newcastle, whom I saw before us in her 
coach, with ioo boys and girls running looking upon 
her : but I could not : and so she got home before I 
could come up to her. But I will get a time to see her. 

May 28, 1667. 

I by water to Fox-hall, and there walked in Spring 
Garden. A great deal of company, and the weather and 
garden pleasant : and it is very pleasant and cheap going 
thither, for a man may go to spend what he will, or 
nothing, all is one. But to hear the nightingale and 
other birds, and hear fiddles, and there a harp, and here 
a Jew's trump, and here laughing, and there fine people 
walking, is mighty divertising. Among others, there 
were two pretty women alone, that walked a great while, 
which being discovered by some idle gentlemen, they 
would needs take them up : but to see the poor ladies 
how they were put to it to run from them, and they after 
them, and sometimes the ladies put themselves along with 
other company, then the other drew back ; at last, the 
last did get off out of the house, and took boat and away. 
I was troubled to see them abused so ; and could have 
found in my heart, as little desire of fighting as I have, 
to have protected the ladies. 

144 



MR. PEPYS THE OBSERVER 



July 14, 1667. 

(Lord's day.) Up, and my wife, a little before four, 
and to make us ready ; and by and by Mrs. Turner come 
to us, by agreement, and she and I staid talking below, 
while my wife dressed herself, which vexed me that she was 
so long about it, keeping us till past five o'clock before she 
was ready. She ready ; and, taking some bottles of wine, 
and beer, and some cold fowle with us into the coach, we 
took coach and four horses, which I had provided last 
night, and so away. A very fine day, and so towards 
Epsom, talking all the way pleasantly, and particularly of 
the pride and ignorance of Mrs. Lowther, in having of 
her train carried up. The country very fine, only the 
way very dusty. To Epsom, by eight o'clock, to the 
well ; where much company, and I drank the water : 
they did not, but I did drink four pints. And to the 
towne, to the King's Head ; and hear that my Lord 
Buckhurst and Nelly are lodged at the next house, and 
Sir Charles Sedley with them : and keep a merry house. 
Poor girl ! I pity her ; but more the loss of her at the 
King's house. W. Hewer rode with us, and I left him 
and the women, and myself walked to church, where few 
people to what I expected, and none I knew, but all the 
Houblons, brothers, and them after sermon I did salute, 
and walk with towards my inne. James did tell me that 
I was the only happy man of the Navy, of whom, he 
says, during all this freedom the people have taken to 
speaking treason, he hath not heard one bad word of me, 
which is a great joy to me ; for I hear the same of 
others, but do know that I have deserved as well as most. 

145 L 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

We parted to meet anon, and I to my women into a 
better room, which the people of the house borrowed 
for us, and there to a good dinner, and were merry, and 
Pembleton come to us, who happened to be in the house, 
and there talked and were merry. After dinner, he 
gone, we all lay down, the day being wonderful hot, to 
sleep, and each of us took a good nap, and then rose ; 
and here Tom Wilson come to see me, and sat and 
talked an hour ; and I perceive he hath been much 
acquainted with Dr. Fuller, (Tom) and Dr. Pierson, and 
several of the great cavalier parsons during the late 
troubles ; and I was glad to hear him talk of them, 
which he did very ingenuously, and very much of Dr. 
Fuller's art of memory, which he did tell me several 
instances of. By and by he parted, and we took coach 
and to take the ayre, there being a fine breeze abroad ; 
and I carried them to the well, and there filled some 
bottles of water to carry home with me ; and there I 
talked with the two women that farm the well, at £12 
per annum, of the lord of the manor. Mr. Evelyn with 
his lady, and also my Lord George Barkeley's lady, and 
their fine daughter, that the King of France liked so 
well, and did dance so rich in Jewells before the King at 
the ball I was at, at our Court, last winter, and also their 
son, a Knight of the Bath, were at church this morning. 
Here W. Hewer's horse broke loose, and we had the 
sport to see him taken again. Then I carried them to 
see my cozen Pepys's house, and 'light, and walked 
round about it, and they like it, as indeed it deserves, 
very well, and is a pretty place ; and then I walked them 

146 



MR. PEPYS THE OBSERVER 



to the wood hard by, and there got them in the thickets 
till they had lost themselves, and I could not find the 
way into any of the walks in the wood, which indeed are 
very pleasant, if I could have found them. At last got 
out of the wood again ; and I, by leaping down the little 
bank, coming out of the wood, did sprain my right foot, 
which brought me great present pain, but presently, with 
walking, it went away for the present, and so the 
women and W. Hewer and I walked upon the Downes, 
where a flock of sheep was ; and the most pleasant and 
innocent sight that ever I saw in my life. We found a 
shepherd and his little boy reading, far from any houses 
or sight of people, the Bible to him ; so I made the boy 
read to me, which he did, with the forced tone that 
children do usually read, that was mighty pretty, and 
then I did give him something, and went to the father, 
and talked with him ; and I find he had been a servant 
in my cozen Pepys's house, and told me what was become 
of their old servants. He did content himself mightily 
in my liking his boy's reading, and did bless God for him, 
the most like one of the old patriarchs that ever I saw in 
my life, and it brought those thoughts of the old age of 
the world in my mind for two or three days after. We 
took notice of his woolen knit stockings of two colours 
mixed, and of his shoes shod with iron, both at the toe 
and heels, and with great nails in the soles of his feet, 
which was mighty pretty : and, taking notice of them, 
why, says the poor man, the downes, you see, are full of 
stones, and we are faine to shoe ourselves thus ; and 
these, says he, will make the stones fly till they ring 

H7 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

before me. I did give the poor man something, for 
which he was mighty thankful, and I tried to cast stones 
with his home crooke. He values his dog mightily, that 
would turn a sheep any way which he would have him, 
when he goes to fold them : told me there was about 
eighteen score sheep in his flock, and that he hath four 
shillings a week the year round for keeping of them : 
and Mrs. Turner, in the common fields here, did gather 
one of the prettiest nosegays that ever I saw in my life. 
So to our coach, and through Mr. Minnes's wood, and 
looked upon Mr. Evelyn's house ; and so over the 
common, and through Epsom towne to our inne, in the 
way stopping a poor woman with her milk-pail, and in 
one of my gilt tumblers, did drink our bellyfulls of milk, 
better than any creame ; and so to our inne, and there 
had a dish of creame, but it was sour, and so had no 
pleasure in it ; and so paid our reckoning, and took 
coach, it being about seven at night, and passed and saw 
the people walking with their wives and children to take 
the ayre, and we set out for home, the sun by and by 
going down, and we in the cool of the evening all the 
way with much pleasure home, talking and pleasing our- 
selves with the pleasures of this day's work. Mrs. 
Turner mightily pleased with my resolution, which, I 
tell her, is never to keep a country-house, but to keep a 
coach, and with my wife on the Saturday to go some- 
times for a day to this place, and then quit to another 
place ; and there is more variety and as little charge, and 
no trouble, as there is in a country-house. Anon it grew 
dark, and we had the pleasure to see several glow- 

148 



MR. PEPYS THE OBSERVER 



wormes, which was mighty pretty, but my foot begins 
more and more to pain me, which Mrs. Turner by 
keeping her warm hand upon it, did much ease ; but so 
that when we come home, which was just at eleven at 
night, I was not able to walk from the lane's end to my 
house without being helped. So to bed, and there had a 
cere-cloth laid to my foot, but in great pain all night 
long. 

July 29, 1667. 

This day a man, a Quaker, came naked through the 
Hall [Westminster], only very civilly tied about the loins 
to avoid scandal, and with a chafing-dish of fire and 
brimstone burning upon his head, did pass through the 
Hall, crying, " Repent ! repent ! " 

September 2, 1667. 

I dined with Sir G. Carteret, with whom dined 
Mr. Jack Ashburnham and Dr. Creeton, who I observe 
to be a most good man and scholar. In discourse at 
dinner concerning the change of men's humours and 
fashions touching meats, Mr. Ashburnham told us, 
that he remembers since the only fruit in request, and 
eaten by the King and Queen at table as the best 
fruit, was the Catharine payre, though they knew at 
the time other fruits of France and our own country. 
After dinner comes in Mr. Townsend ; and there I was 
witness of a horrid rateing, which Mr. Ashburnham, as 
one of the Grooms of the King's Bedchamber, did give 
him for want of linen for the King's person ; which he 

149 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

swore was not to be endured, and that the King 
would not endure it, and that the King, his father, 
would have hanged his Wardrobe-man should he have 
been served so ; the King having at this day no hanker- 
chers, and but three bands to his neck, he swore. Mr. 
Townsend pleaded want of money and the owing of the 
linen-draper ^5,000 ; and that he hath of late got many 
rich things made — beds, and sheets, and saddles, without 
money, and that he can go no further : but still this old 
man, indeed, like an old loving servant, did cry out for 
the King's person to be neglected. But, when he was 
gone, Townsend told me that it is the grooms taking 
away the King's linen at the quarter's end, as their fee, 
which makes this great want : for, whether the King 
can get it or no, they will run away at the quarter's end 
with what he hath had, let the King get more as 
he can. 

September 6, 1667. 

To Bartholomew fair, and there, it being very dirty, 
and now night, we saw a poor fellow, whose legs were 
tied behind his back, dance upon his hands with his 
breech above his head, and also dance upon his crutches, 
without any legs upon the ground to help him, which he 
did with that pain that I was sorry to see it, and did pity 
him and give him money after he had done. Then we 
to see a piece of clocke-work made by an Englishman — 
indeed, very good, wherein all the several states of man's 
age, to 100 years old, is shewn very pretty and solemne ; 
and several other things more cheerful, and so we ended, 

150 



MR. PEPYS THE OBSERVER 



and took a link, the women resolving to be dirty, and 
walked up and down to get a coach ; and my wife, being 
a little before me, had like to be taken up by one, whom 
we saw to be Sam Hartlib. My wife had her vizard on : 
yet we cannot say that he meant any hurt ; for it 
was just as she was by a coach-side, which he had, or 
had a mind to take up ; and he asked her, " Madam, 
do you go in this coach ? " but, as soon as he saw a man 
come to her, I know not whether he knows me, he 
departed away apace. By and by did get a coach, and so 
away home, and there to supper, and to bed. 

January I, 1667-68. 

I met with Mr. Brisband ; and having it in my mind 
this Christmas to do what I never can remember that 
I did, go to see the gaming at the Groome-Porter's, I 
having in my coming from the playhouse stepped into the 
two Temple-halls, and there saw the dirty 'prentices and 
idle people playing ; wherein I was mistaken, in thinking 
to have seen gentlemen of quality playing there, as I 
think it was when I was a little child, that one of 
my father's servants, John Bassum, I think, carried me 
in his arms thither. I did tell Brisband of it, and he did 
lead me thither, where, after staying an hour, they 
begun to play at about eight at night, where to see how 
differently one man took his losing from another, one 
cursing and swearing, and another only muttering and 
grumbling to himself, a third without any apparent 
discontent at all : to see how the dice will run 
good luck in one hand, for half an hour together, 

151 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

and another have no good luck at all : to see 
how easily here, where they play nothing but 
guinnys, a ^ioo is won or lost : to see two or three 
gentlemen come in there drunk, and putting their stock 
of gold together, one 22 pieces, the second 4, and 
the third 5 pieces ; and these two play one with another, 
and forget how much each of them brought, but he 
that brought the 22 thinks that he brought no more 
than the rest : to see the different humours of gamesters 
to change their luck, when it is bad, how ceremonious 
they are to call for new dice, to shift their places, 
to alter their manner of throwing, and that with 
great industry, as if there was anything in it : to 
see how some old gamesters, that have no money 
now to spend as formerly, do come and sit and look on, 
and among others, Sir Lewes Dives, who was here, and 
hath been a great gamester in his time : to hear their 
cursing and damning to no purpose, as one man being to 
throw a seven if he could, and, failing to do it after 
a great many throws, cried he would be damned if ever 
he flung seven more while he lived, his despair of 
throwing it being so great, while others did it as their 
luck served almost every throw : to see how persons of 
the best quality do here sit down, and play with people 
of any, though meaner ; and to see how people in ordi- 
nary clothes shall come hither, and play away 100, or 2 
or 300 guinnys, without any kind of difficulty : and 
lastly, to see the formality of the groome-porter, who is 
their judge of all disputes in play and all quarrels that 
may arise therein, and how his under-officers are there to 

152 






MR. PEPYS THE OBSERVER 



observe true play at each table, and to give new dice, is 
a consideration I never could have thought had been 
in the world, had I not now seen it. And mighty glad 
I am that I did see it, and it may be will find another 
evening, before Christmas be over, to see it again, when 
I may stay later, for their heat of play begins not till 
about eleven or twelve o'clock ; which did give me 
another pretty observation of a man, that did win mighty 
fast when I was there. I think he won ^ioo at single 
pieces in a little time. While all the rest envied him his 
good fortune, he cursed it, saying, "it come so early 
upon me, for this fortune two hours hence would be 
worth something to me, but then I shall have no 
such luck." This kind of prophane, mad entertainment 
they give themselves. And so I, having enough for 
once, refusing to venture, though Brisband pressed 
me hard, and tempted me with saying that no man was 
ever known to lose the first time, the devil being too 
cunning to discourage a gamester ; and he offered me 
also to lend me ten pieces to venture ; but I did refuse, 
and so went away. 

August 22, 1668. 

Going through Leaden-Hall, it being market-day, 
I did see a woman catched, that had stole a shoulder 
of mutton off of a butcher's stall, and carrying it wrapt 
up in a cloth, in a basket. The jade was surprised, and 
did not deny it, and the woman so silly as to let her go 
that took it, only taking the meat. 



153 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 



THE PERQUISITES OF MR. PEPYS'S 
OFFICE 

March 25, 1663. 

This evening come Captain [Edward] Grove about 
hiring ships for Tangier. I did hint to him my desire 
that I could make some lawfull profit thereof, which he 
promises. 

April 3, 1663. 

I met Captain Grove, who did give me a letter 
directed to myself from himself. I discerned money to 
be in it, and took it, knowing as I found it to be, 
the proceed of the place I have got him to be, the 
taking up of vessels for Tangier. But I did not open 
it till I come home — not looking into it till all the 
money was out, that I might say I saw no money in 
the paper, if ever I should be questioned about it. 
There was a piece in gold, and ^4 in silver. 

November 21, 1663. 

At noon, I receive a letter from Mr. Creed, with a 
token, viz., a very noble parti-coloured Indian gowne for 

154 



THE PERQUISITES OF MR. PEPYS'S OFFICE 

my wife. The letter is oddly writ, overprizing his 
present, and little owning any past services of mine. I 
confess I had expectations of a better account from him 
of my services about his accounts, and so give his boy 
1 2d., and sent it back again. And this afternoon I went 
to Ludgate, and, by pricing several there, I guess this 
gowne may be worth about ^i 2 or ^15. But, however, 
I expect at least £50 of him. My mind being pretty 
well at ease for my receipt this afternoon of ^17 at the 
Treasury, paid a year since to the carver for his work at 
my house, which I did intend to have paid myself, but, 
finding others to do it, I thought it not amisse to get 
it too. 

February 11, 1663-64. 

Mr. Falconer come and visited my wife, and brought 
her a present — a silver state-cup and cover, value about 
three or ^4, for the courtesy I did him the other day. I 
am almost sorry for this present, because I would have 
reserved him for a place to go in summer a-visiting at 
Woolwich with my wife. 

May 2, 1664. 

To my office, v/hither comes Mr. Bland, and paid me 
the debt he acknowledged he owed me for my service in 
his business of the Tangier merchant — twenty pieces of 
new gold, a pleasant sight. It cheered my heart ; and, 
he being gone, I home to supper, and shewed them my 
wife ; and she, poor wretch, would fain have kept them 
to look on, without any other design but a simple love to 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

them ; but I thought it not convenient, and so took 
them into my own hand. 

September 16, 1664. 

Mr. Gauden coming to me, I had a good opportunity 
to speak to him about his present, which hitherto hath 
been a burden to me, because I was doubtfull that he 
meant it as a temptation to me, to stand by him in the 
business of Tangier victualling ; but he clears me it was 
not, and that what he did was for my old kindnesses to 
him, and dispatching of his business. Met Sir W. 
Warren, and afterwards to the Sun taverne, where he 
brought to me, being all alone, a ^iooina bag, which 
I offered him to give him my receipt for, but he told me 
no, it was my owne, which he had a little while since 
promised me ; and so most kindly he did give it me, and 
I as joyfully, even out of myself, carried it home in a 
coach — he himself expressly taking care that nobody 
might see this business done, though I was willing enough 
to have carried a servant with me to have received it, but 
he advised me to do it myself. 

April 17, 1665. 

This day was left at my house a very neat silver watch 
by one Briggs, a scrivener and solicitor, which I was 
angry with my wife for receiving, or, at least, for opening 
the box wherein it was, and so far witnessing our receipt 
of it, as to give the messenger 5s. for bringing it ; but it 
can't be helped, and I will endeavour to do the man a 
kindness, he being a friend of my uncle Wight's. 

156 ' 



THE PERQUISITES OF MR. PEPYS'S OFFICE 



August 7, 1665. 

Comes Rayner, the boat-maker, about some business, 
and brings a piece of plate with him, which I refused. 
He gone, then comes Luellin, about Mr. Deering's 
business of planke, to have the contract perfected, and 
offers me twenty pieces in gold, but I refused it. 

November 26, 1 667. 

After dinner come to me Mr. Warren, and there did 
tell me that he come to pay his debt to me for the kind- 
ness I did him in getting his last ship out, which I must 
also remember was a service to the King, though I did 
not tell him so. He would present me with sixty pieces 
in gold. I told him I would demand nothing of his 
promises, though they were much greater, nor would 
have thus much, but if he could afford to give me but 
fifty pieces, it should suffice me. So now he brought 
something in a paper, which since proves to be fifty 
pieces. 

February 21, 1667-68. 

Comes to me young Captain Beckford, the slopseller, 
and there presents me a little purse with gold in it, it 
being, as he told me, for his present to me, at the end of 
the last year. I told him I had not done him any service 
I knew of. He persisted, and I refused ; and telling him 
that it was not an age to make presents in, he told me he 
had reason to present me with something, and desired me 
to accept of it, which, at his so urging me, I did. 

157 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 



MR. PEPYS'S PERSONAL APPEARANCE 

May 25, 1662. 

(Lord's day.) To trimming myself, which I have 
this week done every morning, with a pumice stone, 
which I learnt of Mr. March, when I was last at 
Portsmouth ; and I find it very easy, speedy, and cleanly, 
and shall continue the practice of it. 

May 31, 1662. 

Had Sarah to comb my head clean, which I found so 
foul with powdering and other troubles, that I am 
resolved to try how I can keep my head dry without 
powder; and I did also in a sudden fit cut off all my 
beard, which I had been a great while bringing up, only 
that I may with my pumice stone do my whole face as I 
now do my chin, and so save time, which I find a very 
easy way, and gentile. She also washed my feet in a 
bath of herbes, and so to bed. 

May 9, 1663. 

At Mr. Jervas's, my old barber, I did try two or three 
borders and perriwiggs, meaning to wear one ; and yet I 

158 



MR. PEPYS'S PERSONAL APPEARANCE 

have no stomach [for it], but that the pains of keeping 
my hair clean is so great. He trimmed me, and at last I 
parted, but my mind was almost altered from my first 
purpose, from the trouble that I foresee will be in wearing 
them also. 

November 13, 1 663. 

After dinner, come my perriwigg-malcer, and brings 
me a second perriwigg, made of my own hair, which 
comes to 21s. 6d. more than the worth of my own hair, 
so that they both come to ^4 is. 6d., which he sayth 
will serve me two years, but I fear it. He being gone, I 
to my office, and put on my new shagg purple gown, 
with gold buttons and loop-lace. 

January 6, 1663-64. 

(Twelfth day.) This morning I began a practice, 
which I find, by the ease I do it with, that I shall 
continue, it saving me money and time; that is, to 
trimme myself with a razer : which pleases me mightily. 

April 29, 1666. 

Weary to bed, after having my hair of my head cut 
shorter, even close to my skull, for coolness, it being 
mighty hot weather. 

September 17, 1666. 

Up betimes, and shaved myself after a week's growth : 
but, Lord ! how ugly I was yesterday, and how fine 
to-day ! 

159 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

November 12, 1666. 

Going to Sir R. Viner's, I did get such a splash and 
spots of dirt upon my new vest, that I was out of 
countenance to be seen in the street. 



160 



MR. PEPYS AT THE PLAY 



MR. PEPYS AT THE PLAY 

October II, 1660. 

In the Park, we met with Mr. Salisbury, who took Mr. 
Creed and me to the Cockpit to see " The Moor of 
Venice," which was well done. Burt acted the Moor ; 
by the same token, a very pretty lady that sat by me 
called out, to see Desdemona smothered. With Mr. 
Creed to Hercules Pillars, where we drank. 

January 28, 1 660-6 1. 

I went to Mr. Crewe's, and thence to the Theatre, 
where I saw again "The Lost Lady," which do now 
please me better than before ; and here I sitting behind 
in a dark place, a lady spit backward upon me by a 
mistake, not seeing me; but after seeing her to be a very 
pretty lady, I was not troubled at it at all. 

March 2, 1661. 

After dinner I went to the theatre, where I found so 
few people (which is strange, and the reason I do not 
know) that I went out again, and so to Salisbury Court, 
where the house as full as could be ; and it seems it was 
a new play, "The Queen's Maske," wherein there are 

l6l M 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

some good humours; among others, a good jeer to the 
old story of the Siege of Troy, making it to be a common 
country tale. But above all it was strange to see so 
little a boy as that was to act Cupid, which is one of the 
greatest parts in it. 

March 23, 1 66 1. 

To the Red Bull 1 (where I had not been since plays 
come up again) up to the tireing-room, where strange 
the confusion and disorder there is among them in fitting 
themselves, especially here, where the clothes are very 
poore, and the actors but common fellows. At last into 
the pitt, where I think there was not above ten more 
than myself, and not one hundred in the whole house. 
And the play, which is called " All's Lost but Lust," 
poorly done; and with so much disorder, among others, 
in the musique-room, the boy that was to sing a song, 
not singing it right, his master fell about his eares and 
beat him so, that it put the whole house into an uprore. 

July 2, 1 66 1. 

Went to Sir William Davenant's Opera, this being 
the fourth day that it hath begun, and the first that 
I have seen it. To-day was acted the second part of 
" The Siege of Rhodes." We staid a very great while 
for the King and Queen of Bohemia ; and by the 

1 The Red Bull was in St. John Street, Clerkenwell ; but of an inferior 
rank to the Globe and Blackfriars Theatres, and is described as 

"that degenerate stage, 

Where none of the unturn'd kennel can rehearse 
A line of serious sense." 

l62 



MR. PEPYS AT THE PLAY 



breaking of a board over our heads, we had a great deal 
of dust fell into the ladies' necks and the men's haire, 
which made good sport. The King being come, the 
scene opened ; which indeed is very fine and magnificent, 
and well acted, all but the Eunuche, who was so much 
out that he was hissed off the stage. 

August 15, 1 66 1. 

To the Opera, which begins again to-day with " The 
Witts," never acted yet with scenes ; and the King and 
Duke and Duchess were there, who dined to-day with 
Sir H. Finch, reader at the Temple, in great state ; and 
indeed it is a most excellent play, and admirable scenes. 

August 17, 1 66 1. 

I to the Opera, and saw " The Witts " again, which 
I like exceedingly. The Queen of Bohemia was here, 
brought by my Lord Craven. Troubled in mind that I 
cannot bring myself to mind my business, but to be so 
much in love of plays. 

October 28, 1 66 1. 

To the Theatre, and there saw "Argalus and Par- 
thenia," where a woman acted Parthenia, and come 
afterwards on the stage in men's clothes, and had the best 
legs that ever I saw, and I was very well pleased with it. 

September 29, 1662. 

(Michaelmas day.) This day my oaths for drinking 
of wine and going to plays are out ; and so I do resolve 

163 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

to take a liberty to-day, and then to fall to them again. 
To Mr. Coventry's, and so with him and Sir W. Pen up 
to the Duke, where the King come also, and staid till 
the Duke was ready. It being Collar-day, we had no 
time to talk with him about any business. To the 
King's Theatre, where we saw " Midsummer Night's 
Dream," which I had never seen before, nor shall ever 
again, for it is the most insipid, ridiculous play that ever 
I saw in my life. 

September 30, 1662. 

To the Duke's play-house, where we saw "The 
Duchess of Malfy " * well performed, but Betterton and 
Ianthe (Mrs. Betterton) to admiration. Strange to see 
how easily my mind do revert to its former practice of 
loving plays and wine ; but this night I have again 
bound myself to Christmas next. 

October 2, 1662. 

At night, hearing that there was a play at the Cockpit, 
and my Lord Sandwich, who come to town last night, 
at it, I do go thither, and by very great fortune did 
follow four or five gentlemen who were carried to a little 
private door in a wall, and so crept through a narrow 
place, and come into one of the boxes next the King's, 
but so as I could not see the King or Queen, but many 
of the fine ladies, who yet are not really so handsome 
generally as I used to take them to be, but that they 
are finely dressed. Then we saw " The Cardinall," a 

1 A tragedy by John Webster. 
164 



MR. PEPYS AT THE PLAY 



tragedy I had never seen before, nor is there any great 
matter in it. The company that come in with me into 
the box were all Frenchmen, that could speak no English ; 
but, Lord ! what sport they made to ask a pretty lady 
that they got among them, that understood both French 
and English, to make her tell them what the actors said. 

January i, 1662-63. 

After dinner, to the Duke's house, where we saw 
" The Villaine " againe ; and the more I see it, the more 
I am offended at my first undervaluing the play, it being 
very good and pleasant, and yet a true and allowable 
tragedy. The house was full of citizens, and so the less 
pleasant, but that I was willing to make an end of my 
gaddings. Here we saw the old Roxalana in the chief 
box, in a velvet gown, as the fashion is, and very 
handsome, at which I was glad. 

January 6, 1662-63. 

To the Duke's house, and there saw Twelfth-Night 
acted well, though it be but a silly play, and not 
relating at all to the name or day. 

January 8, 1662-63. 

Dined at home ; and there being the famous new 
play acted the first time to-day, which is called " The 
Adventures of Five Hours," at the Duke's house, being, 
they say, made or translated by Colonel Tuke, 1 I did 

1 Sir George Tuke, of Cressing Temple, in Essex, John Evelyn's cousin. 
The play was taken from the original of the Spanish poet, Calderon. Evelyn 
saw it on the same occasion. 

165 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

long to see it ; and so we went ; and though early, 
were forced to sit, almost out of sight, at the end of one 
of the lower formes, so full was the house. And the 
play, in one word, is the best, for the variety and the 
most excellent continuance of the plot to the very end, 
that ever I saw, or think ever shall, and all possible, not 
only to be done in the time, but in most other respects 
very admittable, and without one word of ribaldry ; and 
the house, by its frequent plaudits, did show their 
sufficient approbation. So home ; with much ado in an 
hour getting a coach home, and now resolving to set 
up my rest as to plays till Easter, if not Whitsuntide 
next, excepting plays at Court. 

May 8, 1663. 

Took my wife and Ash well to the Theatre Royall, 
being the second day of its being opened. The house 
is made with extraordinary good convenience, and yet 
hath some faults, as the narrowness of the passages in 
and out of the pit, and the distance from the stage to 
the boxes, which I am confident cannot hear ; but for all 
other things is well ; only, above all, the musique being 
below, and most of it sounding under the very stage, 
there is no hearing of the bases at all, nor very well of 
the trebles, which sure must be mended. The play was 
" The Humorous Lieutenant," a play that hath little 
good in it, nor much in the very part which, by the 
King's command, Lacy now acts, instead of Clun. In 
the dance, the tall devil's actions was very pretty. The 
play being done, we home by water, having been a little 

166 



MR. PEPYS AT THE PLAY 



shamed that my wife and woman were in such a pickle, 
all the ladies being finer and better dressed in the pit than 
they used, I think, to be. To my office, to set down 
this day's passage, and, though my oath against going 
to plays do not oblige me against this house, because 
it was not then in being, yet, believing that at the 
time my meaning was against all public houses, I am 
resolved to deny myself the liberty of two plays at 
Court, which are in arreare to me for the months of 
March and April. 

June 12, 1663. 

To the Royal Theatre ; and there saw " The Com- 
mittee" a merry but indifferent play, only Lacy's 
part, an Irish footman, is beyond imagination. Here I 
saw my Lord Falconbridge, and his lady, my Lady 
Mary Cromwell, who looks as well as I have known 
her, and well clad : but when the house began to fill, 
she put on her vizard, 1 and so kept it on all the play ; 
which of late is become a great fashion among the 

1 Vizard Masques probably came into fashion about this time. On the 
1st of June, 1704, a song was sung at the theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields 
called "The Misses' Lamentation for want of their Vizard Masques at the 
Theatre." Notwithstanding the gross licentiousness of the drama, after 
the Restoration, numbers of females of all denominations frequented the 
theatres, though many of them wore masks to disguise their features, and 
this bad habit had a still worse effect, by the facilities it afforded to intrigue 
and assignation. The custom is pointedly referred to in Pope's well-known 
lines : — 

" The fair sat painting at a courtier's play, 
And not a Mask went improved away 5 
The modest fan was lifted up no more, 
And virgins smiled at what they blushed before." 
167 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

ladies, which hides their whole face. So to the Ex- 
change, to buy things with my wife ; among others, a 
vizard for herself. 

January I, 1663-64. 

Went to the Duke's house, the first play I have been 
at these six months, according to my last vowe, and here 
saw the so much cried-up play of " Henry the Eighth," 
which, though I went with resolution to like it, is so 
simple a thing, made up of a great many patches, that, 
besides the shows and processions in it, there is nothing 
in the world good or well done. 

February 1, 1663-64. 

To the King's Theatre, and there saw " The Indian 
Queene " acted ; which indeed is a most pleasant show, 
and beyond my expectation ; the play good, but spoiled 
with the ryme, which breaks the sense. But above my 
expectation most, the eldest Marshall did do her part 
most excellently well as I ever heard woman in my life ; 
but her voice is not so sweet as Ianthe's : but, however, 
we come home mightily contented. 

June I, 1664. 

To the King's house, and saw "The Silent Woman ;" 
but methought not so well done or so good a play as I 
formerly thought it to be. Before the play was done, it 
fell such a storm of hayle, that we in the middle of the 
pit were fain to rise ; and all the house in a disorder. 1 

1 The Blackfriars Theatre was entirely roofed over, and had a pit, instead 
of a mere enclosed yard ; whilst the stage portion alone of the public play- 
houses was protected from the weather. The house was lighted by a cupola. 

168 



MR. PEPYS AT THE PLAY 



August 2, 1664. 

To the King's playhouse, and there saw " Bartholo- 
mew Fayre," which do still please me ; and is, as it is 
acted, the best comedy in the world, I believe. I 
chanced to sit by Tom Killigrew, who tells me that he 
is setting up a Nursery [for actors] ; that is, is going to 
build a house in Moorefields, wherein he will have 
common plays acted. But four operas it shall have in 
the year, to act six weeks at a time : where we shall have 
the best scenes and machines, the best musique and every 
thing as magnificent as is in Christendome ; and to that 
end, hath sent for voices and painters and other persons 
from Italy. Thence homeward called upon my Lord 
Marlborough. 

August 4, 1664. 

To a play at the King's house, " The Rivall Ladys," * 
a very innocent and most pretty witty play. I was much 
pleased with it, and, it being given me, 2 I look upon it 
as no breach of my oath. Here we hear that Clun, one 
of their best actors, was, the last night, going out of 
towne, after he had acted the Alchymist, wherein was 
one of his best parts that he acts, to his country-house, 
set upon and murdered ; one of the rogues taken, an Irish 
fellow. It seems most cruelly butchered and bound. 
The house will have a great miss of him. 

March 19, 1666. 

After dinner, we walked to the King's playhouse, all in 

1 A tragedy by Dryden. 2 His companion paid for him. 

169 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

dirt, they being altering of the stage to make it wider. 
But God knows when they will begin to act again ; but 
my business here was to see the inside of the stage and 
all the tiring-rooms and machines ; and, indeed, it was a 
sight worthy seeing. But to see their clothes, and the 
various sorts, and what a mixture of things there was ; 
here a wooden leg, there a ruff, here a hobby-horse, 
there a crown, would make a man split himself to see 
with laughing ; and particularly Lacy's wardrobe, and 
ShotrelPs. But then again to think how fine they show 
on the stage by candle-light, and how poor things they 
are to look at too near hand, is not pleasant at all. The 
machines are fine, and the paintings very pretty. 

January 7, 1666-67. 

To the Duke's house, and saw " Macbeth," which 
though I saw it lately, yet appears a most excellent play 
in all respects, but especially in divertisement, though it 
be a deep tragedy ; which is a strange perfection in a 
tragedy, it being most proper here, and suitable. 

January 23, 1666-67. 

To take up my wife and Mercer, and to Temple Bar 
to the Ordinary, and had a dish of meat for them, they 
having not dined, and thence to the King's house, and 
there saw " The Humerous Lieutenant : " a silly play, I 
think ; only the Spirit in it that grows very tall, and 
then sinks again to nothing, having two heads breeding 
upon one, and then Knipp's singing, did please us. Here, 
in a box above, we spied Mrs. Pierce ; and, going out, 

170 




Emery Walker. 



NELL GWYN. 
From an engraving after Sir P. Lely. 



MR. PEPYS AT THE PLAY 



they called us, and so we staid for them ; and Knipp 
took us all in, and brought to us Nelly, 1 a most pretty 
woman, who acted the great part of Ccelia to-day very 
fine, and did it pretty well : I kissed her, and so did 
my wife ; and a mighty pretty soul she is. We also 
saw Mrs. Hall, which is my little Roman-nose black 
girl, that is mighty pretty : she is usually called Betty. 
Knipp made us stay in a box and see the dancing prepara- 
tory to to-morrow for "The Goblins," a play of Suck- 
ling's, not acted these twenty-five years ; which was 
pretty ; and so away thence, pleased with this sight also, 
and specially kissing of Nell. 

February 4, 1 666-67. 

Soon as dined, my wife and I out to the Duke's play- 
house, and there saw " Heraclius," an excellent play, to 
my extraordinary content ; and the more from the house 
being very full, and great company ; among others, Mrs. 
Stewart, very fine, with her locks done up with pufTes, as 
my wife calls them : and several other great ladies had 
their hair so, though I do not like it ; but my wife do 
mightily — but it is only because she sees it is the fashion. 
Here I saw my Lord Rochester and his lady, Mrs. 
Mallet, who hath after all this ado married him ; and, as 
I hear some say in the pit, it is a great act of charity, for 
he hath no estate. But it was pleasant to see how every- 
body rose up when my Lord John Butler, the Duke of 
Ormond's son, came into the pit towards the end of the 

1 Nell Gwynne. Mr. Pepys does not use her surname in speaking of 
her.— E. F. A. 

171 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

play, who was a servant to Mrs. Mallet, and now smiled 
upon her, and she on him. I had sitting next to me a 
woman, the likest my Lady Castlemaine that ever I saw 
anybody like another ; but she is acquainted with every 
fine fellow, and called them by their name, Jacke, and 
Tom, and before the end of the play frisked to another 
place. 

March 2, 1667. 

After dinner, with my wife, to the King's house to 
see "The Maiden Queene," a new play of Dryden's, 
mightily commended for the regularity of it, and the 
strain and wit ; and the truth is, there is a comical part 
done by Nell, which is Florimell, that I never can hope 
ever to see the like done again, by man or woman. 
The King and Duke of York were at the play. But so 
great performance of a comical part was never, I believe, 
in the world before as Nell do this, both as a mad girle, 
then most and best of all when she comes in like a 
young gallant ; and hath the motions and carriage of a 
spark the most that ever I saw any man have. It makes 
me, I confess, admire her. 

April 9, 1667. 

To the King's house, and there saw " The Tameing 
of a Shrew," which hath some very good pieces in it, but 
generally is but a mean play ; and the best part, " Sawny," 1 

1 In 1698, was printed a drama called " Sawney the Scot, or the Taming 
of a Shrew," which was a clumsy alteration of Shakespeare's play, the 
work of Lacy, for the purpose of affording him an opportunity of dis- 

172 



MR. PEPYS AT THE PLAY 



done by Lacy ; and hath not half its life, by reason of the 
words, I suppose, not being understood, at least by me. 

April 19, 1667. 

To the play-house, where saw "Macbeth," which, 
though I have seen it often, yet is it one of the best plays 
for a stage, and variety of dancing and musick, that ever 
I saw. My wife tells me that she finds by W. Hewer 
that my people do observe my minding my pleasure 
more than usual, which I confess, and am ashamed of, 
and so from this day take upon me to leave it till 
Whit-Sunday. 



May 1, 1667. 

Away to the King's play-house, and saw " Love in a 
Maze :" but a sorry play : only Lacy's clowne's part, 
which he did most admirably indeed ; and I am glad to 
find the rogue at liberty again. Here was but little, and 
that ordinary, company. We sat at the upper bench 
next the boxes ; and I find it do pretty well, and have 
the advantage of seeing and hearing the great people, 
which may be pleasant when there is good store. Now 
was only Prince Rupert and my Lord Lauderdale, and 

tinguishing himself as an actor. This is the piece which Pepys saw ; as, in 
the old anonymous copy of " The Taming of a Shrew,'' which was the foun- 
dation of Shakespeare's drama, Saivney had been called Sander ,• and no 
doubt the notion of representing Grumio as a Scotchman arose out of the 
circumstance of his having been called Sander before Shakespeare availed 
himself of the story, The old " Taming of a Shrew " was reprinted in 
1844, from the unique copy of 1594, in the library of the Duke of 
Devonshire, for the Shakespeare Society, and edited by the late Thomas 
Amyot Esq., F.A.S. 

*73 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

my Lord , z the naming of whom puts me in mind 

of my seeing, at Sir Robert Viner's, two or three 
great silver flagons, made with inscriptions as gifts of 
the King to such and such persons of quality as did 
stay in town the late great plague, for the keeping 
things in order in the town. But here was neither Hart, 
Nell, nor Knipp ; therefore, the play was not likely to 
please me. 

May 22, 1667. 

To the King's house, where I did give i8d., and saw 
the last two acts of "The Goblins," a play I could 
not make anything of by these two acts, but here 
Knipp spied me out of the tiring-room, and come to the 
pit door, and I out to her, and kissed her, she only 
coming to see me, being in a country-dress, she and 
others having, it seems, had a country-dance in the play, 
but she no other part ; so we parted, and I into the pit 
again till it was done. The house full, but I had no 
mind to be seen. 
August 15, 1667. 

Sir W. Pen and I to the Duke's house ; where a new 
play. The King and Court there : the house full, and 
an act begun. And so we went to the King's, and there 
saw " The Merry Wives of Windsor ; " which did not 
please me at all, in no part of it. 
August 16, 1667. 

My wife and I to the Duke's playhouse, where we 

1 Probably Craven. 
174 



MR. PEPYS AT THE PLAY 



saw the play acted yesterday, " The Feign Innocence, 
or Sir Martin Marall ; " a play made by my Lord Duke 
of Newcastle, but, as everybody says, corrected by 
Dryden. 1 It is the most entire piece of mirth, a com- 
plete farce, from one end to the other, that certainly 
was ever writ. I never laughed so in all my life, and at 
very good wit therein, not fooling. The House full, 
and in all things of mighty content to me. 

August 17, 1667. 

To the King's playhouse, where the house extra- 
ordinary full ; and there the King and Duke of York 
to see the new play, " Queen Elizabeth's Troubles, 
and the History of Eighty Eight." I confess I have 
sucked in so much of the sad story of Queen Elizabeth 
from my cradle, that I was ready to weep for her some- 
times ; but the play is the most ridiculous that sure 
ever came upon the stage, and, indeed, is merely a show, 
only shows the true garbe of the Queen in those days, 
just as we see Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth 
painted : but the play is merely a puppet play, acted by 
living puppets. Neither the design nor language better ; 
and one stands by and tells us the meaning of things : 
only I was pleased to see Knipp dance among the milk- 
maids, and to hear her sing a song to Queen Elizabeth ; 
and to see her come out in her night-gowne with no 
lockes on, but her bare face and hair only tied up in a 

1 Downes says that the Duke gave this comedy to Dryden, who adapted 
it to the stage ; but it is entered on the books of the Stationers' Company 
as the production of his Grace. 

175 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

knot behind ; which is the comeliest dress that ever I saw 
her in to her advantage. 

August 24, 1667. 

After dinner to a play, and there saw " The Cardinall " 
at the King's house, wherewith I am mightily pleased : 
but, above all, with Becke Marshall. But it is pretty to 
see how I look up and down for, and did spy Knipp ; 
but durst not own it to my wife, for fear of angering her, 
and so I was forced not to take notice of her and 
so homeward : and my belly now full with plays, 
that I do intend to bind myself to see no more till 
Michaelmas. 

September 4, 1667. 

To the Duke of York's playhouse, and there saw 
" Mustapha ; " which, the more I see, the more I like ; 
and is a most admirable poem, and bravely acted ; only 
both Betterton and Harris could not contain from laugh- 
ing in the midst of a most serious part, from the 
ridiculous mistake of one of the men upon the stage ; 
which I did not like. 

September 5, 1667. 

To the Duke of York's house, and there saw 
" Heraclius," which is a good play ; but they did so 
spoil it with their laughing, and being all of them out, 
and with the noise they made within the theatre, that I 
was ashamed of it, and resolved not to come thither again 
a good while, believing that this negligence, which I 

176 



! 



MR. PEPYS AT THE PLAY 



never observed before, proceeds only from their want of 
company in the pit, that they have no care how they act. 

September 16, 1667. 

My wife and Mercer and I away to the King's 
playhouse, to see " The Scornfull Lady ; " but it being 
now three o'clock there was not one soul in the pit ; 
whereupon, for shame, we could not go in, but, against 
our wills, went all to see " Tu Quoque " again, where 
there was pretty store of company. Here we saw 
Madam Morland, who is grown mighty fat, but is very 
comely. But one of the best parts of our sport was a 
mighty pretty lady that sat behind us, that did laugh 
so heartily and constantly, that it did me good to hear 
her. Thence to the King's house, upon a wager of 
mine with my wife, that there would be no acting there 
to-day, there being no company : so I went in and 
found a pretty good company there, and saw their 
dance at the end of the play. 

October 5, 1667. 

To the King's house : and there, going in, met with 
Knipp, and she took us up into the tireing-rooms : and 
to the women's shift, where Nell was dressing herself, 
and was all unready, and is very pretty, prettier than I 
thought. And into the scene-room, and there sat down, 
and she gave us fruit : and here I read the questions to 
Knipp, while she answered me, through all her part of 
" Flora Figarys," which was acted to day. But, Lord ! 
to see how they were both painted would make a man 

177 N 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

mad, and did make me loath them ; and what base com- 
pany of men comes among them, and how lewdly they 
talk ! and how poor the men are in clothes, and yet 
what a show they make on the stage by candle-light, is 
very observable. But to see how Nell cursed, for having 
so few people in the pit, was pretty ; the other house 
carrying away all the people at the new play, and is said, 
now-a-days, to have generally most company, as being 
better players. By and by into the pit, and there saw 
the play, which is pretty good. 

October 15, 1667. 

My wife, and I, and Willett to the Duke of York's 
house, where, after long stay, the King and Duke of 
York come, and there saw " The Coffee-house, ,, the 
most ridiculous, insipid play that ever I saw in my life, 
and glad we were that Betterton had no part in it. But 
here, before the play begun, my wife begun to complain 
to me of Willett's confidence in sitting cheek by jowl 
by us, which was a poor thing ; but I perceive she is 
already jealous of my kindness to her, so that I begin to 
fear this girl is not likely to stay long with us. 

October 19, 1667. 

Full of my desire of seeing my Lord Orrery's new 
play this afternoon at the King's house, " The Black 
Prince/' the first time it is acted ; where, though we came 
by two o'clock, yet there was no room in the pit, but were 
forced to go into one of the upper boxes, at 4s. a piece, 
which is the first time I ever sat in a box in my life. 

178 



MR. PEPYS AT THE PLAY 



And in the same box came, by and by, behind me, my 
Lord Barkeley [of Stratton] and his lady, but I did not 
turn my face to them to be known, so that I was 
excused from giving them my seat ; and this pleasure I 
had, that from this place the scenes do appear very fine 
indeed, and much better than in the pit. The house 
infinite full, and the King and Duke of York there. 
By and by the play begun, and in it nothing particular 
but a very fine dance for variety of figures, but a little 
too long. But, as to the contrivance, and all that was 
witty, which, indeed, was much, and very witty, was 
almost the same that had been in his two former plays of 
" Henry the 5th " and "Mustapha," and the same points 
and turns of wit in both, and in this very same play often 
repeated, but in excellent language, and were so excellent 
that the whole house was mightily pleased all along 
till the reading of a letter, which was so long and so 
unnecessary that they frequently began to laugh, and to 
hiss twenty times, that, had it not been for the King's 
being there, they had certainly hissed it off the stage. 
But I must confess that, as my Lord Barkeley says behind 
me, the having of that long letter was a thing so absurd, 
that he could not imagine how a man of his parts could 
possibly fall into it ; or, if he did, if he had but let any 
friend read it, the friend would have told him of it ; and, 
I must confess, it is one of the most remarkable instances 
of a wise man's not being wise at all times. After the 
play done, and nothing pleasing them from the time of 
the letter to the end of the play, people being put into a 
bad humour of disliking, which is another thing worth 

*79 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

the noting, I home by coach, and could not forbear 
laughing almost all the way, and all the evening to my 
going to bed, at the ridiculousness of the letter, and the 
more because my wife was angry with me, and the world, 
for laughing, because the King was there. 

October 23, 1667. 

To the King's playhouse, and saw "The Black 
Prince : " which is now mightily bettered by that long 
letter being printed, and so delivered to everybody at 
their going in, and some short reference made to it in 
the play ; but, when all is done, I think it the worst 
play of my Lord Orrery's. But here, to my great satis- 
faction, I did see my Lord Hinchingbroke and his 
mistress, with her father and mother ; and I am mightily 
pleased with the young lady, being handsome enough — 
and, indeed, to my great liking, as I would have her. 

November I, 1 667. 

To the King's playhouse, and there saw a silly play 
and an old one, " The Taming of a Shrew." 

November 2, 1667. 

To the King's playhouse, and there saw " Henry the 
Fourth : " and contrary to expectation, was pleased in 
nothing more than in Cartwright's speaking of Falstaffe's 
speech about " What is Honour ? " The house full of 
Parliament-men, it being holyday with them : and it was 
observable how a gentleman of good habit, sitting just 
before us, eating of some fruit in the midst of the play, 

180 



MR. PEPYS AT THE PLAY 



did drop down as dead, being choked ; but with much 
ado Orange Moll did thrust her finger down his throat, 
and brought him to life again. 

November 7, 1667. 

At noon resolved with Sir W. Pen to go to see 
" The Tempest," an old play of Shakespeare's, acted, 
I hear, the first day ; and so my wife, and girl, and 
W. Hewer by themselves, and Sir W. Pen and I after- 
wards by ourselves : and forced to sit in the side 
balcone over against the musique-room at the Duke's 
house, close by my Lady Dorset and a great many 
great ones. The house mighty full ; the King and 
Court there : and the most innocent play that ever I 
saw ; and a curious piece of musick x in an echo of half 
sentences, the echo repeating the former half, while 
the man goes on to the latter ; which is mighty pretty. 
The play has no great wit, but yet good, above ordinary 
plays. 

November 13, 1667. 

To the Duke of York's house, and there saw the 
Tempest again, which is very pleasant, and full of so 
good variety, that I cannot be more pleased almost in 
a comedy, only the seaman's part a little too tedious. 
To my chamber, and do begin anew to bind myself 
to keep my old vows, and among the rest not to see a 

1 Evidently the song sung by Ferdinand, wherein Ariel echoes, " Go thy 
way," from Davenant's and Dryden's adaptation. The music was by 
Banister. 

l8l 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

play till Christmas but once in every other week, and 
have laid aside £io y which is to be lost to the poor, if I do. 

December 28, 1667. 

To the King's house, and there saw "The Mad 
Couple ; " which is but an ordinary play ; but only 
Nell's and Hart's mad parts are most excellent done, but 
especially her's : which makes it a miracle to me to 
think how ill she do any serious part, as, the other day, 
just like a fool or changeling ; and, in a mad part, do 
beyond imitation almost. It pleased us mightily to see 
the natural affection of a poor woman, the mother of 
one of the children brought on the stage : the child 
crying, she by force got upon the stage, and took up 
her child and carried it away off of the stage from Hart. 

March 26, 1668. 

To the Duke of York's house, to see the new play, 
called " The Man is the Master," where the house was, 
it being not one o'clock, very full. But my wife and 
Deb. being there before, with Mrs. Pierce and Corbet 
and Betty Turner, whom my wife carried with her, they 
made me room ; and there I sat, it costing me 8s. upon 
them in oranges, at 6d. a-piece. By and by the King 
came ; and we sat just under him, so that I durst not 
turn my back all the play. The play is a translation 
out of French, and the plot Spanish, but not anything 
extraordinary at all in it, though translated by Sir W. 
Davenant, and so I found the King and his company 
did think meanly of it, though there was here and there 

182 



MR. PEPYS AT THE PLAY 



something pretty : but the most of the mirth was sorry, 
poor stuffe, of eating of sack posset and slabbering them- 
selves, and mirth fit for clownes; the prologue but poor, 
and the epilogue little in it but the extraordinariness of 
it, it being sung by Harris and another in the form of 
a ballad. Thence, by agreement, we all of us to the 
Blue Balls, hard by, whither Mr. Pierce also goes with 
us, who met us at the play, and anon comes Manuel, 
and his wife, and Knipp, and Harris, who brings with 
him Mr. Banister, the great master of musick ; and 
after much difficulty in getting of musick, we to danc- 
ing, and then to a supper of French dishes, which yet 
did not please me, and then to dance and sing ; and 
mighty merry we were till about eleven or twelve at 
night, with mighty great content in all my company, 
and I did, as I love to do, enjoy myself. 

May 7, 1668. 

To the Duke of York's house, and there saw "The 
Man's the Master," which proves, upon my seeing it 
again, a very good play. To the King's house, where, 
going in for Knipp, the play being done, I did see Beck 
Marshall come dressed, off of the stage, and look mighty 
fine, and pretty, and noble : and also Nell, in her boy's 
clothes, mighty pretty. But, Lord ! their confidence ! 
and how many men do hover about them as soon as they 
come off the stage, and how confident they are in their 
talk ! Here I did kiss the pretty woman newly come, 
called Pegg, that was Sir Charles Sedley's mistress, a 
mighty pretty woman, and seems, but is not, modest. 

183 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

Here took up Knipp into our coach, and all of us with 
her to her lodgings, and thither comes Bannister with a 
song of her's, that he hath set in Sir Charles Sedley's 
play for her, which is, I think, but very meanly set ; but 
this he did, before us, teach her, and it being but a 
slight, silly, short ayre, she learnt it presently. But I 
did get him to prick me down the notes of the Echo, 
in " The Tempest," which pleases me mightily. Here 
was also Haynes, the incomparable dancer of the King's 
house. Then we abroad to Marrowbone, and there 
walked in the garden, the first time I ever was there ; 
and a pretty place it is. 

July II, 1668. 

To the King's playhouse, to see an old play of 
Shirly's, called " Hide Parke ; " the first day acted ; 
where horses are brought upon the stage : but it is 
but a very moderate play, only an excellent epilogue 
spoke by Beck Marshall. 



184 



MR. PEPYS'S RELATIVES 



MR. PEPYS'S RELATIVES 

July 6, 1 66 1. 

Waked this morning with news, brought me bv a 
messenger on purpose, that my uncle Robert is dead ; 
so I rose sorry in some respect, glad in my expectations 
in another respect : so I bought me a pair of boots in 
St. Martin's, and got myself ready, and then to the 
Post-house, and set out about eleven and twelve o'clock, 
taking the messenger with me that come to me, and so 
we rode, and got well by nine o'clock to Brampton, 
where I found my father well. My uncle's corps in a 
coffin standing upon joynt-stooles in the chimney in 
the hall ; but it begun to smell, and so I caused it to 
be set forth in the yard all night, and watched by my 
aunt. My father and I lay together to-night, I greedy 
to see the will, but did not aske to see it till to-morrow. 

July 7, 1661. 

(Lord's day.) In the morning, my father and I read 
the will ; where, though he gives me nothing at present 
till my father's death, or at least very little, yet I am 
glad to see that he hath done so well for us all, and well 
to the rest of his kindred. After that done, we went 

185 






RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

about getting things, as ribbands and gloves, ready for 
the burial, which in the afternoon was done ; where, it 
being Sunday, all people far and near come in ; and, in 
the greatest disorder that ever I saw, we made shift to 
serve them with what we had of wine and other things ; 
and then to carry him to the church, where Mr. Taylor 
buried him, and Mr. Turner preached a funeral sermon, 
where he spoke not particularly of him anything, but 
that he was one so well known for his honesty, that it 
spoke for itself above all that he could say for it. And 
so made a very good sermon. 

July 8, 9, 10, ii, 12, and 13, 1661. 

I fell to work, and my father to look over my uncle's 
papers and clothes, and continued all this week upon 
that business, much troubled with my aunt's base, ugly 
humours. We had news of Tom Trice putting in a 
caveat against us, in behalf of his mother, to whom my 
uncle had not given anything, and for good reason 
therein expressed, which troubled us also. But above 
all, our trouble is to find that his estate appears nothing 
as we expected, and all the world believes ; nor his 
papers so well sorted as I would have had them, but all 
in confusion, that breaks my brains to understand them. 
We missed also the surrenders of his copyhold land, 
without which the land would not come to us, but to 
the heire at lawe, so that what with this, and the bad- 
ness of the drink, and the ill opinion I have of the meat, 
and the biting of the gnats by night, and my disappoint- 
ment in getting home this week, and the trouble of 

186 






MR. PEPYS'S RELATIVES 



sorting all the papers, I am almost out of my wits with 
trouble, only I appear the more contented, because I 
would not have my father troubled. 

January 23, 1661-62. 

By invitacon to my uncle Fenner's, where I found 
his new wife, a pitiful, old, ugly, ill-bred woman, in a 
hatt, a mid-wife. Here were many of his, and as many 
of her relations, sorry, mean people ; and after choosing 
our gloves, we all went over to the Three Crane 
taverne, and, though the best room of the house, in 
such a narrow dogg-hole we were crammed, and I 
believe we were near forty, that it made me loath my 
company and victuals ; and a sorry, poor dinner it was 
too. After dinner, I took aside the two Joyces, to thank 
them for their kind thoughts for a wife for Tom ; but 
that, considering the possibility there is of my having 
no child, and what then I shall be able to leave him, I 
do think he may expect in that respect a wife with 
more money, and so desired them to think no more 
of it. 

October II, 1662. 

Up betimes, and after a little breakfast, and a very 
poor one, like our supper, and such as I cannot feed on, 
because of my she-cozen Claxton's gouty hands ; and 
after Roger had carried me up and down his house and 
orchards, to show me them, I mounted, and rode to 
Huntingdon, and so to Brampton, where I found my 
father and two brothers, my mother and sister. I 

187 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

walked up and down the house and garden, and find 
my father's alteracions very handsome. 

January 4, 1662-63. 

(Lord's day.) Up and to church, where a lazy 
sermon. My wife did propound my having of my 
sister Pall again to be her woman, since one we must 
have, it being a very great trouble to me that I should 
have a sister of so ill a nature, that I must be forced 
to spend money upon a stranger, when it might better 
be upon her, if she were good for anything. 

May 1, 1663. 

After dinner, I got my father, brother Tom, and 
myself together, and I advised my father to good 
husbandry, and to be living within the compass of 
^50 a year, and all in such kind words, as not only 
made both them but myself to weep. 

September 14, 1663. 

By coach to Bishop's Gate Street, it being a very 
promising fair day. There at the Dolphin we met 
my uncle Thomas, and his son-in-law, which seems a 
very sober man, and Mr. Moore : so Mr. Moore and 
my wife set out before, and my uncle and I staid for 
his son Thomas, who, by a sudden resolution, is pre- 
paring to go with us, which makes me fear something 
of mischief which they design to do us. He staying 
a great while, the old man and I before, and about eight 
miles off, his son comes after us, and about six miles 

188 



MR. PEPYS'S RELATIVES 



further, we overtake Mr. Moore and my wife, which 
makes me mightily consider what a great deal of ground 
is lost in a little time, when it is to be got up again by 
another, who is to go his own ground and the others 
too, and so, after a little bayte, I paying all the reckon- 
ings the whole journey, at Ware, to Buntingford, where 
my wife, by drinking some cold beer, being hot herself, 
presently after 'lighting, begins to be sick, and become 
so pale, and I alone with her in a great chamber there, 
that I thought she would have died, and so in great 
horror, and having a great trial of my true love and 
passion for her, called the maids and mistress of the 
house, and so with some strong water, she come to 
be pretty well again ; and so to bed, and I having 
put her to bed with great content, I called in my 
company, and supped in the chamber by her, and 
being very merry in talk, supped and then parted. 
This day my cozen Thomas dropped his hanger, and 
it was lost. 

September 17, 1663. 

I was forced to come to a new consideration, whether 
it was fit to let my uncle and his son go to Wisbeach 
about my uncle Day's estate alone or no, and concluded 
it unfit ; and so, leaving my wife, I begun a journey 
with them, and with much ado through the fenns, 
along dikes, where sometimes we were ready to have 
our horses sink to the belly, we got by night, with a 
great deal of stir, and hard riding, to Parson's Drove, 
a heathen place, where I found my uncle and aunt 

189 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

Perkins, and their daughters, poor wretches ! in a sad, 
poor thatched cottage, like a poor barne, or stable, 
peeling of hemp, in which I did give myself good 
content to see their manner of preparing of hemp ; and 
in a poor condition of habitt took them to our miserable 
inne, and there, after long stay, and hearing of Frank, 
their son, the miller, play upon his treble, as he calls it, 
with which he earnes part of his living, and singing of 
a country song, we set down to supper ; the whole 
crew, and Spankes's wife and child, a sad company, of 
which I was ashamed, supped with us. By and by, 
newes is brought to us, that one of our horses is stole 
out of the stable, which proves my uncle's, at which I 
am inwardly glad — I mean, that it was not mine ; and 
at this we were at a great loss ; and they doubting a 
person that lay at next door, a Londoner, some lawyer's 
clerk, we caused him to be secured in his bed, and other 
care to be taken to seize the house ; and so, about 
twelve at night or more, to bed, in a sad, cold, stony 
chamber; and a little after I was asleep, they waked 
me, to tell me that the horse was found, which was 
good news, and so to sleep, but was bit cruelly, and 
nobody else of our company, which I wonder at, by 
the gnatts. 

September 1 8, 1663. 

Up, and got our people together ; and after eating a 
dishe of cold creame, which was my supper last night 
too, we took leave of our beggarly company, though 
they seem good people, too ; and over most sad fenns, 

190 



MR. PEPYS'S RELATIVES 



all the way observing the sad life which the people of 
the place — which, if they be born there, they do call 
the Breedlings of the place — do live, sometimes rowing 
from one spot to another, and then wadeing. To 
Wisbeach, a pretty town, and a fine church and library, 
where sundry very old abbey manuscripts ; and a fine 
house, built on the church ground, by Secretary Thur- 
low, and a fine gallery built for him in the church, but 
now all in the Bishop of Ely's hands. After visiting 
the church, &c, we out of the town, by the help of a 
stranger, to find out one Blinlcehorne, a miller, of whom 
we might inquire something of old Day's disposal of his 
estate, and in whose hands it now is ; and by great 
chance we met him, and brought him to our inne to 
dinner ; and instead of being informed in his estate by 
this fellow, we find that he is the next heire to the 
estate, which was matter of great sport to my cozen 
Thomas and me, to see such a fellow prevent us in our 
hopes — he being Day's brother's daughter's son, whereas 
we are but his sister's sons and grandsons : so that, after 
all, we were fain to propose our matter to him, and to 
get him to give us leave to look after the business, and so 
he to have one-third part, and we two to have the other 
two-third parts, of what should be recovered of the 
estate, which he consented to ; and, after paying 
the reckoning, we mounted again, and rode, being 
very merry at our defeate, to Chatteris — my uncle 
very weary, and after supper, and my telling of three 
stories to their good liking of spirits, we all three in 
a chamber went to bed. 

191 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

September 19, 1663. 

Up pretty betimes ; and I to Brampton, where I find 
my father ill in bed still, and Madam Norbery, whom 
and her fair daughter and sister I was ashamed to kiss, 
but did — my lip being sore with riding in the winde, 
and bit with the gnats ; and they being gone, I told 
my father my successe. My wife and I took horse, and 
rode with marvellous, and the first and only hour of, 
pleasure that ever I had in this estate, since I had to do 
with it, to Brampton woods ; and through the wood 
rode, and gathered nuts in my way, and then at Graffan, 
to an old woman's house, to drink, where my wife used 
to go ; and being in all circumstances highly pleased, and 
in my wife's riding and good company at this time, I 
rode, and she showed me the river behind my father's 
house, which is very pleasant ; and so saw her home, 
and I straight to Huntingdon ; and there a barber come 
and trimmed me, and thence walked to Hinchingbroke, 
where my Lord and ladies all are just alighted. 

March 18, 1664. 

To church, 1 and, with the gravemaker, chose a place 
for my brother to lie in, just under my mother's pew. 
But to see how a man's tombes are at the mercy of 
such a fellow, that for sixpence he would, as his own 
words were, "I will justle them together but I will 
make room for him ; " speaking of the fulness of the 
middle aisle, where he was to lie ; and that he would, 
for my father's sake, do my brother, that is dead, all the 

1 Pepys's brother Thomas had died three days before. — E. F. A. 
I92 



MR. PEPYS'S RELATIVES 



civility he can ; which was to disturb other corps that 
are not quite rotten, to make room for him ; and me- 
thought his manner of speaking it was very remarkable ; 
as of a thing that now was in his power to do a man a 
courtesy or not. I dressed myself, and so did my 
servant Besse ; and so to my brother's again : whither, 
though invited, as the custom is, at one or two o'clock, 
they come not till four or five. But, at last, one after 
another, they come, many more than I bid : and my 
reckoning that I bid was one hundred and twenty ; but 
I believe there was nearer one hundred and fifty. Their 
service was six biscuits a-piece, and what they pleased of 
burnt claret. My cozen Joyce Norton kept the wine 
and cakes above ; and did give out to them that served, 
who had white gloves given them. But, above all, I 
am beholden to Mrs. Holden, who was most kind, and 
did take mighty pains not only in getting the house and 
every thing else ready, but this day in going up and down 
to see the house filled and served, in order to mine and 
their great content, I think : the men sitting by them- 
selves in some rooms, and the women by themselves in 
others, very close, but yet room enough. Anon to 
church, walking out into the street to the conduit, and 
so across the street ; and had a very good company along 
with the corps. And, being come to the grave as above, 
Dr. Pierson, the minister of the parish, did read the 
service for buriall : and so I saw my poor brother laid 
into the grave : and so all broke up ; and I and my 
wife, and Madam Turner and her family, to her 
brother's, and by and by fell to a barrell of oysters, 

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RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

cake, and cheese, of Mr. Honiwood's, with him, in 
his chamber and below, being too merry for so late a 
sad work. But, Lord ! to see how the world makes 
nothing of the memory of a man, an hour after he is 
dead ! And, indeed, I must blame myself ; for, though 
at the sight of him dead and dying, I had real grief for a 
while, while he was in my sight, yet presently after, and 
ever since, I have had very little grief indeed for him. 

June 13, 1666. 

With Baity to Hales's 1 by coach. Here I find my 
father's picture begun, and so much to my content, that 
it joys my very heart to think that I should have his 
picture so well done ; who, besides that he is my father, 
and a man that loves me, and hath ever done so, is also, 
at this day, one of the most careful and innocent men 
in the world. 

October 17, 1666. 

To dinner alone with my brother, with whom I 
had now the first private talk I have had, and find he 
hath preached but twice in his life. I did give him some 
advice to study pronunciation, but I do fear he will 
never make a good speaker, nor, I fear, any general 
good scholar ; for I do not see that he minds optickes 
or mathematiques of any sort, nor anything else that I 
can find. I know not what he may be at divinity and 
ordinary school-learning. However, he seems sober, 
and that pleases me. 

1 A prominent portrait-painter of that time. — E. F. A. 
I94 



MR. PEPYS'S RELATIVES 



March 27, 1667. 

Received from my brother the news of my mother's 
dying on Monday, about five or six o'clock in the after- 
noon, and that the last time she spoke of her children 
was on Friday last, and her last words were, " God bless 
my poor Sam ! " The reading hereof did set me 
a-weeping heartily. Found it necessary to go abroad 
with my wife to look after the providing mourning to 
send into the country — some to-morrow, and more 
against Sunday, for my family, being resolved to put 
myself and wife, and Barker and Jane, W. Hewer and 
Tom, in mourning, and my two under-maids, to give 
them hoods and scarfs and gloves. So to my tailor's, 
and up and down, and then home, and to bed, my 
heart sad, though my judgment at ease. 

April 13, 1667. 

Wrote to my father, who, I am glad to hear, is at 
some ease again, and I long to have him in town, that 
I may see what can be done for him here ; for I would 
fain do all I can, that I may have him live, and take 
pleasure in my doing well in the world. 

October 10, 1667. 

Up, to walk up and down in the garden with my 
father, to talk of all our concernments : about a husband 
for my sister, whereof there is at present no appearance ; 
but we must endeavour to find her one now, for she 
grows old and ugly : then for my brother ; and resolve 
he shall stay here this winter, and then I will either send 

195 



/ 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

him to Cambridge for a year, till I get him some church 
promotion, or send him to sea as a chaplain, where he 
may study, and earn his living. 

December 5, 1667. 

This day, not for want, but for good husbandry, I 
sent my father, by his desire, six pair of my old shoes, 
which fit him, and are good ; yet, methought, it was a 
thing against my mind to have him wear my old things. 

March 2, 1668. 

This day I have the news that my sister was married 
on Thursday last to Mr. Jackson ; so that work is, I 
hope, well over. 



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MR. PEPYS ON RELIGION 



MR. PEPYS ON RELIGION 

November 9, 1663. 

Mr.. Blackburne l and I fell to talk of many things, 
wherein he was very open to me : first, in that of religion, 
he makes it greater matter of prudence for the King and 
Council to suffer liberty of conscience ; and imputes the 
loss of Hungary to the Turke from the Emperor's deny- 
ing them this liberty of their religion. He says that 
many pious ministers of the word of God, some thousands 
of them, do now beg their bread ; and told me how 
highly the present clergy carry themselves everywhere, 
so as that they are hated and laughed at by everybody ; 
among other things, for their excommunications, which 
they send upon the least occasions almost that can be. 
And I am convinced in my judgment, not only from his 
discourse, but my thoughts in general, that the present 
clergy will never heartily go down with the generality 
of the commons of England ; they have been so used to 
liberty and freedom, and they are so acquainted with the 
pride and debauchery of the present clergy. He did give 
me many stories of the affronts which the clergy receive 

1 A stanch Puritan. 
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RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

in all places of England from the gentry and ordinary- 
persons of the parish. He do tell me what the City- 
thinks of General Monk, as of a most perfidious man 
that hath betrayed every body, and the King also ; who, 
as he thinks, and his party, and so I have heard other 
good friends of the King say, it might have been better 
for the King to have had his hands a little bound for the 
present, than be forced to bring such a crew of poor 
people about him, and be liable to satisfy the demands of 
every one of them. He told me that, to his knowledge, 
being present at every meeting at the Treaty at the Isle 
of Wight, that the old King did confess himself overruled 
and convinced in his judgement against the Bishopps, 
and would have suffered and did agree to exclude the 
service out of the churches, nay, his own chapell ; and 
that he did always say, that this he did not by force, for 
that he would never abate one inch of any violence ; but 
what he did was out of his reason and judgement. He 
tells me that the King by name, with all his dignities, 
is prayed for by them that they call Fanatiques, as heartily 
and powerfully as in any of the other churches that are 
thought better : and that, let the King think what he 
will, it is them that must help him in the day of warr. 
For so generally they are the most substantiall sort of 
people, and the soberest ; and did desire me to observe 
it to my Lord Sandwich, among other things, that of all 
the old army now you cannot see a man begging about 
the streets ; but what ? You shall have this captain 
turned a shoemaker ; the lieutenant, a baker ; this a 
brewer ; that a haberdasher ; this common soldier, a 

198 



MR. PEPYS ON RELIGION 



porter ; and every man in his apron and frock, &c, as 
if they never had done anything else : whereas, the 
others go with their belts and swords, swearing, and 
cursing, and stealing ; running into people's houses, by 
force oftentimes, to carry away something ; and this is 
the difference between the temper of one and the other ; 
and concludes, and I think with some reason, that the 
spirits of the old parliament soldiers are so quiet and con- 
tented with God's providences, that the King is safer 
from any evil meant him by them one thousand times 
more than from his own discontented Cavalier. And 
then to the publick management of business : it is done, 
as he observes, so loosely and so carelessly, that the king- 
dom can never be happy with it, every man looking after 
himself, and his own lust and luxury ; and that half of 
what money the Parliament gives the King is not so 
much as gathered. And to the purpose, he told me how 
the Bellamys, who had some of the Northern counties 
assigned them for their debt for the petty warrant 
victualling, have often complained to him that they 
cannot get it collected, for that nobody minds, or, if 
they do, they won't pay it in. Whereas, which is a 
very remarkable thing, he hath been told by some of the 
Treasurers at Warr here of late, to whom the most of 
the ^120,000 monthly was paid, that for most months 
the payments were gathered so duly, that they seldom 
had so much or more than 40s., or the like, short in the 
whole collection ; whereas, now the very Commissioners 
for Assessments and other publick payments are such 
persons, and those that they choose in the country so 

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RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

like themselves, that from top to bottom there is not a 
man carefull of any thing, or, if he be, is not solvent ; 
that what between the beggar and the knave, the King 
is abused the best part of all his revenue. We then 
talked of the Navy, and of Sir W. Pen's rise to be a 
general. He told me he was always a conceited man, 
and one that would put the best side outward, but that 
it was his pretence of sanctity that brought him into play. 
Lawson, and Portman, and the fifth-monarchy men, 
among whom he was a great brother, importuned that 
he might be General ; and it was pleasant to see how, 
Blackburne himself did act it ; how, when the Commis- 
sioners of the Admiralty would enquire of the captains 
and admirals of such and such men, how they would, 
with a sigh and casting up the eyes, say, " such a man 
fears the Lord," or, " I hope such a man hath the Spirit 
of God." But he tells me, that there was a cruel article 
against Pen, after one fight, for cowardice, in putting 
himself within a coyle of cables, of which he had much 
ado to acquit himself: and by great friends did it, not 
without remains of guilt, but that his brethren had a 
mind to pass it by, and Sir H. Vane did advise him to 
search his heart, and see whether this fault or a greater 
sin was not the occasion of this so great tryall. And he 
tells me, that what Pen gives out about Cromwell's send- 
ing and entreating him to go to Jamaica is very false ; 
he knows the contrary ; besides, the Protector never was 
a man that needed to send for any man, especially such 
a one as he, twice. He tells me that the business of 
Jamaica did miscarry absolutely by his pride, and that, 

200 



MR. PEPYS ON RELIGION 



when he was in the Tower, he would cry like a child. 
And that just upon the turne, when Monk was come 
from the North to the City, and did begin to think of 
bringing in the King, Pen was then turned Quaker. 
That Lawson was never counted any thing but only a 
seaman, and a stout man, but a false man, and that now 
he appears the greatest hypocrite in the world. And 
Pen the same. He tells me, that it is much talked of, 
that the King intends to legitimate the Duke of Mon- 
mouth ; and that neither he, nor his friends of his per- 
suasion, have any hopes of getting their consciences at 
liberty but by God Almighty's turning of the King's heart, 
which they expect, and are resolved to live and die in 
quiet hopes of it ; but never to repine, or act any thing 
more than by prayers towards it. And that not only 
himself, but all of them have, and are willing, at any 
time, to take the oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy. 
Mr. Blackburne observed further to me, some certain 
notice that he had of the present plot so much talked of; 
that he was told by Mr. Rushworth how one Captain 
Oates, a great Discoverer, did employ several to bring 
and seduce others into a plot, and that one of his agents 
met with one that would not listen to him, nor conceal 
what he had offered him, but so detected the trepan. 
He did also much insist upon the cowardice and corrup- 
tion of the King's guards and militia. 



201 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 



MR. PEPYS AND ROYALTY 

November 22, 1660. 

My wife and I walked to the Old Exchange, and 
there she bought her a white whisk, 1 and put it on, and 
I a pair of gloves. To Mr. Fox's, where we found Mrs. 
Fox within, and an alderman of London paying £1,000 
or £1,400 in gold upon the table for the King. Mr. 
Fox come in presently, and did receive us with a great 
deal of respect ; and then did take my wife and I to 
the Queen's presence-chamber, where he got my wife 
placed behind the Queen's chaire, and the two Princesses 
come to dinner. The Queen, a very little, plain old 
woman, and nothing more in her presence in any respect 
nor garbe than any ordinary woman. The Princess of 
Orange I had often seen before. The Princess Henrietta 
is very pretty, but much below my expectation ; and her 
dressing of herself with her haire frized short up to her 
eares did make her seem so much the less to me. But 
my wife standing near her with two or three black 
patches on, and well dressed, did seem to me much 
handsomer than she. 

1 A sort of tippet formerly worn by women. 
202 



MR. PEPYS AND ROYALTY 



November 27, 1662. 

At my waking, I found the tops of the houses covered 
with snow, which is a rare sight, which I have not seen 
these three years. To the office, where we sat till noon ; 
when we all went to the next house upon Tower Hill 
to see the coming by of the Russia Embassador ; for 
whose reception all the City trained bands do attend in 
the streets, and the King's life-guards, and most of the 
wealthy citizens in their black velvet coats, and gold 
chains, which remain of their gallantry at the King's 
coming in, but they staid so long that we went down 
again to dinner. And after I had dined, I walked to the 
Conduit in the Quarrefowr, at the end of Gracious 
Street and Cornhill; and there, the spouts thereof 
running very near me upon all the people that were 
under it, I saw them pretty well go by. I could not see 
the Embassador in his coach ; but his attendants in their 
habits and fur caps very handsome, comely men, and 
most of them with hawkes upon their fists to present to 
the King. But, Lord ! to see the absurd nature of 
Englishmen, that cannot forbear laughing and jeering at 
every thing that looks strange. 

July 13, 1663. 

I met the Queen Mother walking in the Pell Mell, 
led by my Lord St. Albans. And finding many coaches 
at the Gate, I found upon enquiry that the Duchess is 
brought to bed of a boy ; and hearing that the King 
and Queen are rode abroad with the Ladies of Honour 
to the Park ; and, seeing a great crowd of gallants staying 

203 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

here to see their return, I also staid walking up and down. 
By and by the King and Queen, who looked in this dress, 
a white laced waistcoate and a crimson short pettycoate, 
and her hair dressed a la negligence, mighty pretty : and the 
King rode hand in hand with her. Here was also my 
Lady Castlemaine, who rode among the rest of the ladies ; 
but the King took, methought, no notice of her ; nor 
when she 'light, did any body press, as she seemed to 
expect, and staid for it, to take her down, but was 
taken down by her own gentleman. She looked mighty 
out of humour, and had a yellow plume in her hat, which 
all took notice of, and yet is very handsome, but very 
melancholy ; nor did any body speak to her, or she so 
much as smile or speak to any body. I followed them 
up into Whitehall, and into the Queen's presence, where 
all the ladies walked, talking and fiddling with their hats 
and feathers, and changing and trying one another's by 
one another's heads, and laughing. But it was the finest 
sight to me, considering their great beautys and dress, 
that ever I did see in all my life. But, above all, Mrs. 
Stewart in this dresse, with her hat cocked and a red 
plume, with her sweet eye, little Roman nose, and 
excellent taille, is now the greatest beauty I ever saw, I 
think, in my life ; and, if ever woman can, do exceed my 
Lady Castlemaine, at least in this dress : nor do I wonder 
if the King changes, which I verily believe is the reason 
of his coldness to my Lady Castlemaine. 

October 19, 1663. 
Coming to St. James's, I hear that the Queen did sleep 
204 



MR. PEPYS AND ROYALTY 



five hours pretty well to-night, and that she waked and 
gargled her mouth, and to sleep again ; but that her pulse 
beats fast, beating twenty to the King's or my Lady 
Suffolk's eleven ; but not so strong as it was. It seems 
she was so ill as to be shaved, and pidgeons put to her 
feet, and to have the extreme unction given her by the 
priests, who were so long about it that the doctors were 
angry. The King, they all say, is most fondly dis- 
consolate for her, and weeps by her, which makes her 
weep; which one this day told me he reckons is a 
good sign, for that it carries away some rheume from 
the head. 

October 20, 1663. 

This evening, at my Lord's lodgings, Mrs. Sarah talk- 
ing with my wife and I how the Queen do, and how the 
King tends her, being so ill. She tells us that the 
Queen's sickness is the spotted fever ; that she was as 
full of the spots as a leopard : which is very strange that 
it should be no more known ; but perhaps it is not so. 
And that the King do seem to take it much to heart, for 
that he hath wept before her ; but, for all that, that he 
hath not missed one night, since she was sick, of supping 
with my Lady Castlemaine ; which I believe is true, for 
she says that her husband hath dressed the suppers every 
night ; and I confess I saw him myself coming through the 
street dressing up a great supper to-night, which Sarah 
says is also for the King and her : which is a very strange 
thing. 

205 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

October 22, 1663. 

This morning, hearing that the Queen grows worse 
again, I sent to stop the making of my velvet cloak, till 
I see whether she lives or dies. 

October 27, 1663. 

Mr. Coventry tells me to-day that the Queen had a 
very good night last night ; but yet it is strange that still 
she raves and talks of little more than of her having of 
children, and fancys now that she hath three children, 
and that the girle is very like the King. And this morn- 
ing, about five o'clock, the physician, feeling her pulse, 
thinking to be better able to judge, she being still and 
asleep, waked her, and the first word she said was, " How 
do the children ? " 

November 2, 1663. 

Up, and by coach to White Hall, and there in the long 
Matted Gallery I find Sir G. Carteret, Sir J. Minnes, 
and Sir W. Batten ; and by and by comes the King, to 
walk there with three or four with him ; and, soon as he 
saw us, says he, "Here is the Navy Office," and there 
walked twenty turns the length of the gallery, talking, 
methought, but ordinary talk. By and by come the 
Duke, and he walked, and at last they went into the 
Duke's lodgings. The King staid so long, that we could 
not discourse with the Duke, and so we parted. I heard 
the Duke say that he was going to wear a perriwigg ; and 
they say the King also will. I never till this day observed 
that the King is mighty gray. 

206 



MR. PEPYS AND ROYALTY 



November 28, 1663. 

To-day, for certain, I am told how in Holland pub- 
lickly they have pictured our King with reproach : one 
way, is with his pockets turned the wrong side outward, 
hanging out empty ; another, with two courtiers, picking 
of his pockets ; and a third, leading of two ladies, while 
others abuse him ; which amounts to great contempt. 

^January 4, 1663-64. 

To the Tennis Court, and there saw the King play at 
tennis and others : but to see how the King's play was 
extolled, without any cause at all, was a loathsome sight, 
though sometimes, indeed, he did play very well, and 
deserved to be commended ; but such open flattery is 
beastly. 

April 17, 1665. 

Thence to White Hall ; where the King, seeing me, 
did come to me, and, calling me by name, did discourse 
with me about the ships in the River : and this is the 
first time that ever I knew the King did know me per- 
sonally ; so that hereafter I must not go thither, but 
with expectation to be questioned, and to be ready to give 
good answers. 

^January 28, 1665-66. 

(Lord's day.) Took coach, and to Hampton Court, 
where we find the King, and Duke, and Lords, all in 
council ; so we walked up and down : there being none 
of the ladies come, and so much the more business I hope 

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RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

will be done. The Council being up, out comes the 
King, and I kissed his hand, and he grasped me very- 
kindly by the hand. The Duke also, I kissed his, and 
he mighty kind, and Sir W. Coventry. I found my 
Lord Sandwich there, poor man ! I see with a melan- 
choly face, and suffers his beard to grow on his upper lip 
more than usual. I took him a little aside, to know 
when I should wait on him, and where : he told me, 
that it would be best to meet at his lodgings, without 
being seen to walk together, which I liked very well ; 
and, Lord ! to see in what difficulty I stand, that I dare 
not walk with Sir W. Coventry, for fear my Lord or Sir 
G. Carteret should see me ; nor with either of them, for 
fear Sir W. Coventry should. I went down into one of 
the Courts, and there met the King and Duke ; and the 
Duke called me to him. And the King come to me 
of himself, and told me, " Mr. Pepys," says he, " I do 
give you thanks for your good service all this year, and I 
assure you I am very sensible of it." And the Duke of 
York did tell me with pleasure, that he had read over 
my discourse about pursers, and would have it ordered 
in my way, and so fell from one discourse to another. 

April 15, 1666. 

(Lord's day.) Walked into the Park to the 
Queen's chapel, and there heard a good deal of their 
mass, and some of their musique, which is not so con- 
temptible, I think, as our people would make it, it 
pleasing me very well ; and, indeed, better than the 
anthem I heard afterwards at White Hall, at my coming 

208 



MR. PEPYS AND ROYALTY 



back. I staid till the King went down to receive the 
Sacrament, and stood in his closet with a great many 
others, and there saw him receive it, which I never did 
see the manner of before. But I do see very little differ- 
ence between the degree of the ceremonies used by our 
people in the administration thereof, and that in the 
Roman church, saving that, methought, our Chapel was 
not so fine, nor the manner of doing it so glorious, as 
it was in the Queen's chapel. 

July 25, 1666. 

At White Hall ; we find the Court gone to Chapel, 
it being St. James's-day. And, by the by, while they 
are at chapel, and we waiting chapel being done, come 
people out of the Park, telling us that the guns are heard 
plainly. And so every body to the Park, and by and 
by the chapel done ; and the King and Duke into the 
bowling-green, and upon the leads, whither I went, and 
there the guns were plain to be heard ; though it was 
pretty to hear how confident some would be in the 
loudnesse of the guns, which it was as much as ever I 
could do to hear them. By and by the King to dinner, 
and I waited there his dining ; but, Lord ! how little I 
should be pleased, I think, to have so many people 
crowding about me ; and, among other things, it 
astonished me to see my Lord Barkeshire waiting at 
table, and serving the King drink, in that dirty pickle 
as I never saw man in my life. Here I met Mr. Wil- 
liams, who would have me to dine where he was invited 
to dine, at the Backestayres. So, after the King's meat 

209 p 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

was taken away, we thither ; but he could not stay, 
but left me there among two or three of the King's 
servants, where we dined with the meat that come from 
his table ; which was most excellent, with most brave 
drink cooled in ice, which, at this hot time, was wel- 
come ; and I, drinking no wine, had metheglin for the 
King's own drinking, which did please me mightily, 

October 8, 1666. 

The King hath yesterday, in Council, declared his 
resolution of setting a fashion for clothes, which he will 
never alter. It will be a vest, I know not well how ; 
but it is to teach the nobility thrift, and will do good 



October 13, 1666. 

To White Hall, and there the Duke of York, who 
is gone over to all his pleasures again, and leaves off 
care of business, what with his woman, my Lady Den- 
ham, and his hunting three times a week, was just 
come in from hunting. So I stood and saw him dress 
himself, and try on his vest, which is the King's new 
fashion, and he will be in it for good and all on Monday 
next, and the whole Court : it is a fashion, the King 
says, he will never change. 

October 15, 1666. 

This day the King begins to put on his vest, and 
I did see several persons of the House of Lords and 
Commons too, great courtiers, who are in it ; being 
a long cassocke close to the body, of black cloth, and 

210 






MR. PEPYS AND ROYALTY 



pinked with white silk under it, and a coat over it, 
and the legs ruffled with black riband like a pigeon's 
leg : and, upon the whole, I wish the King may keep 
it, for it is a very fine and handsome garment. 1 

November 22, 1666. 

Mr. Batelier tells me the news how the King of France 
hath, in defiance to the King of England, caused all 
his footmen to be put into vests, and that the noblemen 
of France will do the like ; which, if true, is the 
greatest indignity ever done by one Prince to another, 
and would excite a stone to be revenged ; and I hope 
our King will, if it be so, as he tells me it is : 2 being 
told by one that come over from Paris with my Lady 

1 Rugge, in his Diurnal, thus describes the new court costume : — " 1666, 
Oct. 11. In this month His Majestie and the whole court changed the 
fashion of their clothes — viz., a close coat of cloth pinkt, with a white 
taffety under the cutts. This in length reached the calf of the leg, and 
upon that a sercoat cutt at the breast, which hung loose and shorter than the 
vest six inches. The breeches the Spanish cut, and buskins some of cloth, 
some of leather, but of the same colour, as the vest or garment ; of never 
the like fashion since William the Conqueror." Evelyn says, "It was a 
comely and manly habit, too good to hold, it being impossible for us, in 
good ernest, to leave the Monsieur's vanities long." See also his Diary, 
Oct. 18, 1666. Charles resolved never to alter it, and "to leave the French 
mode, which had hitherto obtained, to our great expence and reproach." 
But his consistency was so well known, that " divers gentlemen and courtiers 
gave him gold, by way of wagers, that he would not persist in his resolu- 
tion." — %uar. Review, vol. xix. p. 41. It is represented in a portrait of 
Lord Arlington, by Sir P. Lely, formerly belonging to Lord de Clifford, 
and engraved in Lodge's lllus. Persons. Louis XIV. ordered his servants 
to wear the dress. 

2 Perhaps this influenced Charles II. in abandoning his new costume, 
which, at all events, was shortly discontinued, notwithstanding his having 
betted that it should never be changed. 

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RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

Fanshaw, who is come over with the dead body of her 
husband, and that saw it before he come away. This 
makes me mighty merry, it being an ingenious kind of 
affront ; but yet makes me angry, to see that the King 
of England is become so little as to have the affront 
offered him. 

September 2, 1667. 

I went to see a great match at tennis between Prince 
Rupert and one Captain Cooke against Bab. May and 
the elder Chichly ; where the King was, and Court ; 
and it seems they are the best players at tennis in the 
nation. But this puts me in mind of what I observed 
in the morning, that the King, playing at tennis, had 
a steele-yard carried to him ; and I was told it was to 
weigh him after he had done playing ; and at noon Mr. 
Ashburnham told me that it is only the King's curiosity, 
which he usually hath of weighing himself before and 
after his play, to see how much he loses in weight by 
playing : and this day he lost 4J lbs. 

September 8, 1667. 

To White Hall, and saw the King and Queen at 
dinner ; and observed, which I never did before, the 
formality, but it is but a formality, of putting a bit of 
bread wiped upon each dish into the mouth of every 
man that brings a dish ; but it should be in the sauce. 
Here were some Russes come to see the King at dinner ; 
among others, the interpreter, a comely Englishman, 
in the Envoy's own clothes ; which the Envoy, it 

212 



MR. PEPYS AND ROYALTY 



seems, in vanity did send to show his fine clothes upon 
this man's back, he being one, it seems, of a comelier 
presence than himself: and yet it is said that none of 
their clothes are their own, but taken out of the King's 
own Wardrobe ; and which they dare not bring back 
dirty or spotted, but clean, or are in danger of being 
beaten, as they say : insomuch that, Sir Charles Cotterell 
says, when they are to have an audience they never 
venture to put on their clothes till he appears to come 
to fetch them ; and, as soon as ever they come home, 
put them off again. 

May 24, 1669. 

To White Hall, where I attended the Duke of York, 
and was by him led to the King, who expressed great 
sense of my misfortune in my eyes, and concernment 
for their recovery ; and accordingly signified, not only 
his assent to my desire therein, but commanded me to 
give them rest this summer, according to my late 
petition to the Duke of York. 



213 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 



MR. PEPYS'S COMMENTS ON 
SCIENTIFIC MATTERS 

July 3, 1662. 

Dined with the officers of the Ordnance ; where Sir 
W. Compton, Mr. O'Neal, and other great persons 
were. After dinner, was brought to Sir W. Compton a 
gun to discharge seven times ; the best of all devices 
that ever I saw, and very serviceable, and not a bawble ; 
for it is much approved of, and many thereof made. 

November 11, 1663. 

At noon to the Coffee-house, where, with Dr. Allen, 
some good discourse about physick and chymistry. And 
among other things, I telling him what Dribble, the 
German Doctor, do offer of an instrument to sink ships ; 
he tells me that which is more strange, that something 
made of gold, which they call in chymistry Aurum 
Fulminans^ a grain, I think he said, of it, put into a 
silver spoon and fired, will give a blow like a musquett, 
and strike a hole through the silver spoon downward, 
without the least force upward ; and this he can make 
a cheaper experiment of, he says, with iron prepared. 

214 



MR. PEPYS ON SCIENTIFIC MATTERS 

May 1 6, 1664. 

With Mr. Pierce, the surgeon, to see an experiment 
of killing a dog, by letting opium into his hind-leg. He 
and Dr. Clerke did fail mightily in hitting the vein, and 
in effect did not do the business after many trials ; but, 
with the little they got in the dog did presently fall 
asleep, and so lay till we cut him up, and a little dog 
also, which they put it down his throat — he also stag- 
gered first, and then fell asleep, and so continued. 
Whether he recovered or no, after I was gone, I know not. 

April 19, 1665. 

To Gresham College, where we saw some experi- 
ments upon a hen, a dog, and a cat, of the Florence 
poyson. The first it made for a time drunk, but it 
come to itself again quickly ; the second it made vomit 
mightily, but no other hurt. The third I did not stay 
to see the effect of it. 

May 19, 1666. 

Mr. Deane and I did discourse about his ship Rupert, 
built by him, which succeeds so well as he hath got 
great honour by it, and I some, by recommending him ; 
the King, Duke, and every body, saying it is the best 
ship that was ever built. And then he fell to explain 
to me his manner of casting the draught of water which 
a ship will draw beforehand : which is a secret the 
King and all admire in him ; and he is the first that 
hath come to any certainty beforehand, of foretelling the 
draught of water of a ship before she be launched. 

215 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

July 28, 1666. 

To the Pope's Head, where my Lord Brouncker and 
his mistress dined, and Commissioner Pett, Dr. Charleton, 
and myself, were entertained with a venison pasty by Sir 
W. Warren. Here very pretty discourse of Dr. Charle- 
ton's, concerning Nature's fashioning every creature's 
teeth according to the food she intends them ; and that 
men's, it is plain, was not for flesh, but fruit, and that he 
can at any time tell the food of a beast unknown by the 
teeth ; and that all children love fruit, and none brought 
to flesh, but against their wills, at first. 

August 8, 1666. 

Discoursed with Mr. Hooke about the nature of 
sounds, and he did make me understand the nature of 
musicall sounds made by strings, mighty prettily ; and 
told me that having come to a certain number of vibra- 
tions proper to make any tone, he is able to tell how 
many strokes a fly makes with her wings, those flies that 
hum in their flying, by the note that it answers to in 
musique, during their flying. That, I suppose, is a little 
too much refined ; but his discourse in general of sound 
was mighty fine. 

November 14, 1666. 

To the Pope's Head, where all the Houblons were, 
and Dr. Croone. Dr. Croone told me, that, at the 
meeting at Gresham College to-night, which, it seems, 
they now have every Wednesday again, there was a pretty 
experiment of the blood of one dog let out, till he died, 

216 



MR. PEPYS ON SCIENTIFIC MATTERS 

into the body of another on one side, while all his own 
run out on the other side. The first died upon the place, 
and the other very well, and likely to do well. This did 
give occasion to many pretty wishes, as of the blood of 
a Quaker to be let into an Archbishop, and such like; 
but, as Dr. Croone says, may, if it takes, be of mighty 
use to man's health, for the mending of bad blood by 
borrowing from a better body. 

November 1 6, 1666. 

This noon I met with Mr. Hooke, and he tells me 
the dog which was filled with another dog's blood, at the 
College the other day, is very well, and like to be so as 
ever, and doubts not its being found of great use to men ; 
and so do Dr. Whistler, who dined with us at the 
tavern. 

February 3, 1666-67. 

(Lord's day.) To White Hall, and there to Sir W. 
Coventry's chamber, and there staid till he was ready, 
talking, and among other things of the Prince's being 
trepanned, which was in doing just as we passed through 
the Stone Gallery, we asking at the door of his lodgings, 
and were told so. We are full of wishes for the good 
success ; though I dare say but few do really concern 
ourselves for him in our hearts. With others into the 
House, and there hear that the work is done to the 
Prince in a few minutes without any pain at all to him, 
he not knowing when it was done. It was performed by 
Moulins. Having cut the outward table, as they call it, 

217 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

they find the inner all corrupted, so as it come out with- 
out any force ; and their fear is, that the whole inside of 
his head is corrupted like that, which do yet make them 
afraid of him ; but no ill accident appeared in the doing 
of the thing, but all with all imaginable success, as Sir 
Alexander Frazier did tell me himself, I asking him, who 
is very kind to me. 

November 21, 1667. 

With Creed to a tavern, where Dean Wilkins and 
others : and good discourse ; among the rest, of a man 
that is a little frantic, that hath been a kind of minister, 
Dr. Wilkins saying that he hath read for him in his 
church, that is poor and a debauched man, that the 
College have hired for 20s. to have some of the blood of 
a sheep let into his body ; and it is to be done on Saturday 
next. They purpose to let in about twelve ounces ; 
which, they compute, is what will be let in in a minute's 
time by a watch. On this occasion, Dr. Whistler told 
a pretty story related by Muffet, a good author, of Dr. 
Caius, that built Caius College ; that, being very old, 
and living only at that time upon woman's milk, 
he, while he fed upon the milk of an angry, fretful 
woman, was so himself; and then, being advised to 
take it of a good-natured, patient woman, he did 
become so, beyond the common temper of his age. 
Their discourse was very fine ; and if I should be put 
out of my office, I do take great content in the 
liberty I shall be at, of frequenting these gentlemen's 
company. 

218 



MR. PEPYS ON SCIENTIFIC MATTERS 

October 27, 1668. 

This evening Mr. Spong come, and sat late with me, 
and first told me of the instrument called a parallelogram, 1 
which I must have one of, shewing me his practice 
thereon, by a map of England. 

1 Now generally called pentagrapk. It is a very useful instrument, by 
means of which persons having no skill in drawing may copy designs, 
prints, &c, in any proportion. 



219 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 



MR. PEPYS AND HIS SERVANTS 

March 24, 1660. 

At work hard all the day writing letters to the Council, 
&c. Mr. Creed came on board, and dined very boldly 
with my Lord. The boy Eliezer flung down a can of 
beer upon my papers, which made me give him a box of 
the ear, it having cost me a great deal of work. 



December 1, 1660. 

This morning, observing some things to be laid up not 
as they should be by my girl, I took a broom and basted 
her till she cried extremely, which made me vexed ; but 
before I went out, I left her appeased. 



October 20, 1661. 

(Lord's day.) Much offended in mind at a proud 
trick my man Will hath got, to keep his hat on in the 
house, but I will not speak of it to him to-day, but I fear 
I shall be troubled with his pride and lazinesse, though 
in other things he is good enough. 

220 



3t 



MR. PEPYS AND HIS SERVANTS 

October 25, 1 66 1. 

I did give my man Will a sound lesson about his 
forbearing to give us the respect due to a master and 
mistress. 

February 24, 1661-62. 

Called Will up, and chid him before my wife, for 
refusing to go to church with the maids yesterday, and 
telling his mistress that he would not be made a slave of. 

February 28, 1 66 1-62. 

The boy failing to call us up as I commanded, I was 
angry, and resolved to whip him for that, and many other 
faults, to-day. Early with Sir W. Pen by coach to White 
Hall, to the Duke of Yorke's chamber, and there I 
presented him from my Lord a fine map of Tangier, 
done by one Captain Beckman, a Swede, that is with 
my Lord. We staid looking it over a great while with 
the Duke after he was ready. I bad Will get me a rod, 
and he and I called the boy up to one of the upper rooms 
of the Comptroller's house towards the garden, and there 
I reckoned all his faults, and whipped him soundly, but 
the rods was so small that I fear they did not much hurt 
to him, but only to my arm, which I am already, within 
a quarter of an houre, not able to stir almost. 

June 8, 1662. 

Home, and observe my man Will to walk with his 
cloak flung over his shoulder, which, whether it was that 
he might not be seen to walk along with the footboy I 

221 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

know not, but I was vexed at it ; and coming home, 
and after prayers, I did ask him where he learned that 
immodest garb ; and he answered me, that it was not 
immodest, or some such slight answer, at which I did 
give him two boxes on the eares, which I never did before. 

"January 12, 1662-63. 

To the King's Head ordinary, but people being set 
down, we went to two or three places ; at last found 
some meat at a Welch cook's at Charing Crosse, and 
here dined and our boys. Mine had struck down Creed's 
boy in the dirt, with his new suit on, and the boy taken 
by a gentlewoman into a house to make clean, but the 
poor boy was in a pitiful taking and pickle, but I basted 
my rogue soundly. 

February 19, 1664-65. 

(Lord's day.) Hearing by accident of my maid's letting 
in a roguing Scotch woman that haunts the office, to 
help them to wash and scour in our house, and that 
very lately, I fell mightily out, and made my wife, to 
the disturbance of the house and neighbours, to beat our 
little girle, and then we shut her down into the cellar, 
and there she lay all night. 

March 2, 1665. 

Begun this day to rise betimes before six o'clock, and, 
going down to call my people, found Besse and the girle 
with their clothes on, lying within their bedding upon 
the ground close by the fireside, and a candle burning all 

222 



MR. PEPYS AND HIS SERVANTS 

night, pretending they would rise to scoure. But Besse, 
is going, and so she will not trouble me long. 

March 6, 1665. 

I saw Besse go away ; she having, of all wenches that 
ever lived with us, received the greatest love and kind- 
ness, and good clothes besides wages, and gone away with 
the greatest ingratitude. 

January 20, 1665-66. 

I sent my boy home for some papers, where, he stay- 
ing longer than I would have him, I become angry, and 
boxed my boy when he come, that I do hurt my thum so 
much, that I was not able to stir all the day after, and in 
great pain. 

June 30, 1666. 

Late to bed ; and, while I was undressing myself, our 
new ugly maid Luce had like to have broke her neck in 
the dark, going down our upper stairs ; but, which I was 
glad of, the poor girle did only bruise her head, but at first 
did lie on the ground groaning, and drawing her breath, 
like one a-dying. 

July 30, 1666. 

Home ; and to sing with my wife and Mercer in the 
garden ; and coming in, I find my wife plainly dissatisfied 
with me, that I can spend so much time with Mercer, 
teaching her to sing, and could never take the pains with 
her, which I acknowledge ; but it is because that the girl 
do take musick mighty readily, and she do not, and musick 

223 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

is the thing of the world that I love most, and all the 
pleasure almost that I can now take. So to bed, in some 
little discontent, but no words from me. 

October 12, 1666. 

My wife come home, and hath brought her new girle I 
have helped her to, of Mr. Falconbridge's. She is wretched 
poor, and but ordinary favoured, and we fain to lay out 
seven or eight pounds worth of clothes upon her back, 
which, methinks, do go against my heart ; and do not 
think I can ever esteem her as I could have done another, 
that had come fine and handsome ; and, which is more, 
her voice, for want of use, is so furred, that it do not at 
present please me ; but her manner of singing is such, that 
I shall, I think, take great pleasure in it. Well, she is 
come, and I wish us good fortune in her. 

April 12, 1667. 

Coming home, saw my door and hatch open, left so by 
Luce, our cookmaid, which so vexed me, that I did give 
her a kick in our entry, and offered a blow at her, and 
was seen doing so by Sir W. Pen's footboy, which did 
vex me to the heart, because I know he will be telling 
their family of it. 

September 24, 1667. 

My wife tells me that W. Batelier hath been here 
to-day, and brought with him the pretty girl he speaks 
of, to come to serve my wife as a woman, out of the 
school at Bow. My wife says she is extraordinary hand- 

224 



MR. PEPYS AND HIS SERVANTS 

some, and inclines to have her, and I am glad of it — at 
least, that if we must have one, she should be handsome. 
But I shall leave it wholly to my wife, to do what she will 
therein. 

September 27, 1667. 

While I was busy at the Office, my wife sends for me 
to come home, and what was it but to see the pretty girl 
which she is talcing to wait upon her : and though she 
seems not altogether so great a beauty as she had before 
told me, yet indeed she is mighty pretty ; and so pretty, 
that I find I shall be too much pleased with it, and there- 
fore could be contented as to my judgment, though not 
to my passion, that she might not come, lest I may be 
found too much minding her, to the discontent of my 
wife. She is to come next week. She seems, by her 
discourse, to be grave beyond her bigness and age, and 
exceeding well bred as to her deportment, having been a 
scholar in a school at Bow these seven or eight years. 

March 29, 1669. 

This day my new chamber-maid, that comes in the 
room of Jane, is come, Jane and Tom lying at their own 
lodging this night : the new maid's name is Matt, a 
proper and very comely maid. This day also our cook- 
maid Bridget went away, which I was sorry for ; but, 
just at her going, she was found to be a thief, and so 
I was the less troubled for it ; but now our whole 
house will, in a manner, be new, which, since Jane is 
gone, I am not at all sorry for. 

225 Q 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 



MR. PEPYS VIEWS THE CORONATION 
OF CHARLES II. 

April 22, 1 66 1. 

The King's going from the Tower to White Hall. 
Up early, and made myself as fine as I could, and put 
on my velvet coat, the first day that I put it on, though 
made half a year ago. And being ready, Sir W. Batten, 
my Lady, and his two daughters, and his son and wife, 
and Sir W. Pen and his son and I, went to Mr. 
Young's, the flag-maker, in Corne-hill ; and there we had 
a good room to ourselves, with wine and good cake, 
and saw the show very well. In which it is impossible 
to relate the glory of this day, expressed in the clothes 
01 them that rid, and their horses and horse-clothes. 
Among others, my Lord Sandwich's embroidery and 
diamonds were not ordinary among them. The Knights 
of the Bath was a brave sight of itself; and their Esquires, 
among which Mr. Armiger was an Esquire to one of 
the Knights. Remarquable were the two men that repre- 
sent the two Dukes of Normandy and Aquitane. The 
Bishops come next after Barons, which is the higher 

226 






MR. PEPYS VIEWS THE CORONATION 



place ; which makes me think that the next Parliament 
they will be called to the House of Lords. My Lord 
Monk rode bare after the King, and led in his hand a 
spare horse, as being Master of the Horse. The King, 
in a most rich embroidered suit and cloak, looked most 
noble. Wadlow, the vintner, at the Devil, in Fleet 
Street, did lead a fine company of soldiers, all young, 
comely men, in white doublets. There followed the 
Vice-Chamberlain, Sir G. Carteret, a company of men 
all like Turkes ; but I know not yet what they are for. 
The streets all gravelled, and the houses hung with 
carpets before them, made brave show, and the ladies 
out of the windows. So glorious was the show with 
gold and silver, that we were not able to look at it, 
our eyes at last being so much overcome. Both the 
King and the Duke of York took notice of us, as they 
saw us at the window. In the evening, by water to 
White Hall to my Lord's, and there I spoke with my 
Lord. He talked with me about his suit, which was 
made in France, and cost him ^200, and very rich 
it is with embroidery. The show being ended, Mr. 
Young did give us a dinner, at which we very 
merry, and pleased above imagination at what we had 
seen. Sir W. Batten going home, he and I called, and 
drunk some wine, and laid our wager about my Lady 
Faulconbridge's name, which he says not to be Mary 
and so I won above 20s. So home, where Will and the 
boy staid, and saw the show upon Towre-hill, and Jane 
at T. Pepys's the Turner, and my wife at Charles Glasse- 
cocke's in Fleet Street. 

227 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

April 23, 1 66 1. 

About four I rose and got to the Abbey, where I 
followed Sir J. Denham, the surveyor, with some 
company he was leading in. And with much ado, by 
the favour of Mr. Cooper, his man, did get up into a 
great scaffold across the North end of the Abbey, where 
with a great deal of patience I sat from past four till 
eleven before the King come in. And a great pleasure 
it was to see the Abbey raised in the middle, all covered 
with red, and a throne (that is, a chaire) and footstoole 
on the top of it ; and all the officers of all kinds, so 
much as the very fiddlers, in red vests. At last comes 
in the Dean and Prebendaries of Westminster, with 
the Bishops, (many of them in cloth of gold copes,) and 
after them the Nobility, all in their Parliament robes, 
which was a most magnificent sight. Then the Duke, 
and the King with a sceptre r (carried by my Lord 
Sandwich) and sword and wand before him, and the 
crowne too. The King in his robes, bare-headed, which 
was very fine. And after all had placed themselves, 
there was a sermon and the service ; and then in the 
Quire at the high altar, the King passed through all the 
ceremonies of the Coronacon, which to my great grief 
I and most in the Abbey could not see. The crowne 
being put upon his head, a great shout begun, and he 
come forth to the throne, and there passed through 
more ceremonies ; as taking the oath, and having things 
read to him by the Bishopp ; and his lords (who put on 
their caps as soon as the King put on his crowne) and 

1 It was St. Edward's staff. 
228 



MR. PEPYS VIEWS THE CORONATION 

bishops come, and kneeled before him. And three 
times the King at Armes went to the three open places 
on the scaffold, and proclaimed, that if any one could 
show any reason why Charles Stewart should not be 
King of England, that now he should come and speak. 
And a Generall Pardon also was read by the Lord 
Chancellor, and meddalls flung up and down by my 
Lord Cornwallis, of silver, but I could not come by any. 
But so great a noise that I could make but little of the 
musique ; and indeed, it was lost to every body. I 
went out a little while before the King had done all his 
ceremonies, and went round the Abbey to Westminster 
Hall, all the way within rayles, and 10,000 people with 
the ground covered with blue cloth ; and scaffolds all the 
way. Into the Hall I got, where it was very fine with 
hangings and scaffolds one upon another full of brave 
ladies ; and my wife in one little one, on the right 
hand. Here I staid walking up and down, and at last 
upon one of the side stalls I stood and saw the King 
come in with all the persons (but the soldiers) that 
were yesterday in the cavalcade ; and a most pleasant 
sight it was to see them in their several robes. And the 
King come in with his crowne on, and his sceptre in 
his hand, under a canopy borne up by six silver staves, 
carried by Barons of the Cinque Ports, and little bells 
at every end. And after a long time, he got up to the 
farther end, and all set themselves down at their several 
tables ; and that was also a brave sight : and the King's 
first course carried up by the Knights of the Bath. 
And many fine ceremonies there was of the Heralds 

229 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

leading up people before him, and bowing ; and my 
Lord of Albemarle's going to the kitchen and eating 
a bit of the first dish that was to go to the King's table. 
But, above all, was these three Lords, Northumberland, 
and Suffolke, and the Duke of Ormond, coming before 
the courses on horseback, and staying so all dinner- 
time, and at last bringing up [Dymock,] the King's 
Champion, all in armour on horseback, with his speare 
and targett carried before him. And a Herald proclaims 
" That if any dare deny Charles Stuart to be lawful 
King of England, here was a Champion that would fight 
with him ; " and with these words, the Champion flings 
down his gauntlet, and all this he do three times in his 
going up towards the King's table. To which, when 
he is come, the King drinks to him, and then sends him 
the cup, which is of gold, and he drinks it off, and then 
rides back again with the cup in his hand. I went 
from table to table to see the Bishops and all others at 
their dinner, and was infinitely pleased with it. And at 
the Lords' table, I met with William Howe, and he 
spoke to my Lord for me, and he did give him four 
rabbits and a pullet, and so Mr. Creed and I got Mr. 
Minshell to give us some bread, and so we at a stall 
eat it, as every body else did what they could get. I 
took a great deal of pleasure to go up and down, and 
look upon the ladies, and to hear the musique of all 
sorts, but above all, the 24 violins. About six at night 
they had dined, and I went up to my wife. And 
strange it is to think, that these two days have held up 
fair till now that all is done, and the King gone out of 

230 




CHARLES II. 
From an engraving after Kneller. 



MR. PEPYS VIEWS THE CORONATION 

the Hall ; and then it fell a-raining and thundering and 
lightening as I have not seen it do for some years : 
which people did take great notice of; God's blessing 
of the work of these two days, which is a foolery to take 
too much notice of such things. I observed little dis- 
order in all this, only the King's footmen had got hold 
of the canopy, and would keep it from the Barons of the 
Cinque Ports, which they endeavoured to force from 
them again, but could not do it till my Lord Duke 
of Albemarle caused it to be put into Sir R. Pye's hand 
till to-morrow to be decided. At Mr. Bowyer's ; a 
great deal of company, some I knew, others I did not. 
Here we staid upon the leads and below till it was late, 
expecting to see the fire-works, but they were not per- 
formed to-night : only the City had a light like a glory 
round about it, with bonfires. At last, I went to King 
Streete, and there sent Crockford to my father's and 
my house, to tell them I could not come home to-night, 
because of the dirt, and a coach could not be had. And 
so I took my wife and Mrs. Frankleyn (who I profered 
the civility of lying with my wife at Mrs. Hunt's to- 
night) to Axeyard, in which, at the further end, there 
were three great bonfires, and a great many gallants, 
men and women ; and they laid hold ot us, and would 
have us drink the King's health upon our knees, kneel- 
ing upon a faggot, which we all did, they drinking to us 
one after another, which we thought a strange frolique ; 
but these gallants continued there a great while, and I 
wondered to see how the ladies did tipple. At last, I 
sent my wife and her bedfellow to bed, and Mr. Hunt 

231 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

and I went in with Mr. Thornbury (who did give the 
company all their wine, he being yeoman of the wine- 
cellar to the King) ; and there, with his wife and two 
of his sisters, and some gallant sparks that were there, 
we drank the King's health, and nothing else, till one 
of the gentlemen fell down stark drunk, and there lay ; 
and I went to my Lord's pretty well. But no sooner 
a-bed with Mr. Shepley but my head began to turn, 
and I to vomitt, and if ever I was foxed, it was now, 
which I cannot say yet, because I fell asleep, and slept 
till morning. Thus did the day end with joy every 
where ; and blessed be God, I have not heard of any 
mischance to any body through it all, but only to 
Serjeant Glynne, whose horse fell upon him yesterday, 
and is like to kill him, which people do please them- 
selves to see how just God is to punish the rogue at 
such a time as this ; he being now one of the King's 
Serjeants, and rode in the cavalcade with Maynard, to 
whom people wish the same fortune. There was also 
this night, in King Streete, a woman had her eye put 
out by a boy's flinging a firebrand into the coach. 
Now, after all this, I can say, that, besides the pleasure 
of the sight of these glorious things, I may now shut 
my eyes against any other objects, nor for the future 
trouble myself to see things of state and showe, as being 
sure never to see the like again in this world. 



232 



MR. PEPYS'S RECORD OF THE PLAGUE 



MR. PEPYS'S RECORD OF THE PLAGUE 

April 30, 1665. 

Great fears of the sicknesse here in the City, it being 
said that two or three houses are already shut up. God 
preserve us all ! 

June 7, 1665. 

This day, much against my will, I did in Drury Lane 
see two or three houses marked with a red cross upon 
the doors, and " Lord have mercy upon us ! " writ 
there ; which was a sad sight to me, being the first of 
the kind that, to my remembrance, I ever saw. It put 
me into an ill conception of myself and my smell, so that 
I was forced to buy some roll-tobacco to smell to and 
chaw, which took away the apprehension. 

June 20, 1665. 

This day I informed myself that there died four of 
five at Westminster of the plague, in several houses, 
upon Sunday last, in Bell Alley, over against the Palace- 
gate : yet people do think that the number will be fewer 
in the town than it was the last week. 

233 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

June 22, 1665. 

In great pain whether to send my mother into the 
country to-day or no ; I hearing, by my people, that the 
poor wretch hath a mind to stay a little longer, and I 
cannot blame her. At last, I resolved to put it to her, 
and she agreed to go, because of the sickness in town, 
and my intentions of removing my wife. She was to 
the last unwilling to go, but would not say so, but put 
it off till she lost her place in the coach, and was fain to 
ride in the waggon part. 

June 26, 1665. 

The plague encreases mightily, I this day seeing a 
house, at a bitt-maker's, over against St. Clement's 
Church, in the open street, shut up : which is a sad 
sight. 

July 5, 1665. 

By water to Woolwich, where I found my wife come, 
and her two maids, and very prettily accommodated 
they will be ; and I left them going to supper, grieved 
in my heart to part with my wife, being worse by much 
without her, though some trouble there is in having the 
care of a family at home this plague time. 

July 22, 1665. 

To Fox-hall, where to the Spring garden ; but I do 
not see one guest there, the town being so empty of any 
body to come thither. Only, while I was there, a poor 
woman come to scold with the master of the house that 

234 



MR. PEPYS'S RECORD OF THE PLAGUE 

a kinswoman, I think, of her's, that was nearly dead of 
the plague, might be buried in the church-yard ; for, for 
her part, she should not be buried in the commons, as 
they said she should. I by coach home, not meeting 
with but two coaches and but two carts from White Hall 
to my own house, that I could observe, and the streets 
mighty thin of people. I met this noon with Dr. 
Burnett, who told me, and I find in the news-book this 
week that he posted upon the 'Change, that whoever did 
spread the report that, instead of dying of the plague, his 
servant was by him killed, it was forgery, and shewed me 
the acknowledgment of the Master of the pest-house, 
that his servant died of a bubo on his right groine, 
and two spots on his right thigh, which is the 
plague. 

July 29, 1665. 

At noon to dinner, where I hear that my Will is come 
in thither, and laid down upon my bed, ill of the headache, 
which put me into extraordinary fear ; and I studied all I 
could to get him out of the house, and set my people to 
work to do it without discouraging him, and myself went 
forth to the Old Exchange to pay my fair Batelier for 
some linnen, and took leave of her, they breaking up shop 
for a while : and so by coach to Kate Joyce's, and there 
used all the vehemence and rhetorique I could to get her 
husband to let her go down to Brampton, but I could not 
prevail with him ; he urging some simple reasons, but 
most that of profit, minding the house, and the distance, 
if either of them should be ill. However, I did my best, 

235 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

and more than I had a mind to do, but that I saw him so 
resolved against it, while she was mightily troubled at it. 
At last, he yielded she should go to Windsor, to some 
friends there : so I took my leave of them, believing it is 
great odds that we ever all see one another again ; for I 
dare not go any more to that end of the town. Will is 
gone to his lodging, and is likely to do well, it being 
only the headache. 

July 30, 1665. 

(Lord's day.) Up, and in my night-gown, cap, and 
neckcloth, undressed, all day long — lost not a minute, 
but in my chamber, setting my Tangier accounts to 
rights. Will is very well again. It was a sad noise to 
hear our bell to toll and ring so often to-day, either for 
deaths or burials ; I think, five or six times. 

August 3, 1665. 

Up, and betimes to Deptford to Sir G. Carteret's, 
where, not knowing the horse which had been hired by 
Mr. Unthwayt for me, I did desire Sir G. Carteret to 
let me ride his new ^40 horse ; and so to the ferry, where 
I was forced to stay a great while before I could get my 
horse brought over, and then mounted, and rode very 
finely to Dagenhams ; all the way, people, citizens, walk- 
ing to and fro, enquire how the plague is in the City this 
week by the Bill ; which, by chance, at Greenwich, I 
had heard was 2,020 of the plague, and 3,000 and odd, 
of all diseases ,• but methought it was a sad question to be 
so often asked me. 

236 



MR. PEPYS'S RECORD OF THE PLAGUE 

August 3, 1665. 

[I am told] how a maid servant of Mr. John Wright's, 
who lives thereabouts, falling sick of the plague, she was 
removed to an outhouse, and a nurse appointed to look 
to her ; who, being once absent, the maid got out of 
the house at the window, and run away. The nurse 
coming and knocking, and, having no answer, believed 
she was dead, and went and told Mr. Wright so ; who 
and his lady were in great straight what to do to get 
her buried. At last, resolved to go to Burntwood, hard 
by, being in the parish, and there get people to do it. 
But they would not : so he went home full of trouble, 
and in the way met the wench walking over the com- 
mon, which frightened him worse than before ; and was 
forced to send people to take her, which he did ; and they 
got one of the pest-coaches, and put her into it, to carry 
her to a pest-house. And, passing in a narrow lane, Sir 
Anthony Browne, with his brother and some friends in 
the coach, met this coach with the curtains drawn close. 
The brother, being a young man, and believing there 
might be some lady in it that would not be seen, and the 
way being narrow, he thrust his head out of his own into 
her coach, and to look, and there saw somebody looking 
very ill, and in a silk dress, and stunk mightily ; which 
the coachman also cried out upon. And presently they 
come up to some people that stood looking after it, and 
told our gallants that it was a maid of Mr. Wright's 
carried away sick of the plague ; which put the young 
gentleman into a fright had almost cost him his life, but 
he is now well again. 

237 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

August 10, 1665. 

By and by to the office, where we sat all the morning ; 
in great trouble to see the Bill this week rise so high, 
to above 4,000 in all, and of them above 3,000 of the 
plague. Home, to draw over anew my will, which I had 
bound myself by oath to dispatch by to-morrow night ; 
the town growing so unhealthy, that a man cannot 
depend upon living two days. 

August 15, 1665. 

It was dark before I could get home, and so land at 
Church-yard stairs, where, to my great trouble, I met a 
dead corps of the plague, in the narrow alley, just bring- 
ing down a little pair of stairs. But I thank God I was 
not much disturbed at it. However, I shall beware of 
being late abroad again. 

August 16, 1665. 

To the Exchange, where I have not been a great 
while. But, Lord ! how sad a sight it is to see the 
streets empty of people, and very few upon the 'Change ! 
Jealous of every door that one sees shut up, lest it should 
be the plague ; and about us two shops in three, if not 
more, generally shut up. This day, I had the ill news 
from Dagenhams, that my poor Lord of Hinchingbroke 
his indisposition is turned to the small-pox. Poor gentle- 
man ! that he should be come from France so soon to 
fall sick, and of that disease too, when he should be gone 
to see a fine lady, his mistress ! I am most heartily sorry 
for it. 

238 



MR. PEPYS'S RECORD OF THE PLAGUE 

August 20, 1665. 

After church, to my inn, and eat and drank, and so 
about seven o'clock by water, and got, between nine and 
ten, to Queenhive, very dark ; and I could not get my 
waterman to go elsewhere, for fear of the plague. Thence 
with a lanthorn, in great fear of meeting of dead corpses, 
carrying to be buried ; but, blessed be God ! met none, 
but did see now and then a link, which is the mark of 
them, at a distance. 

AugUSt 22, 1665. 

Walked to Greenwich, in my way seeing a coffin with 
a dead body therein, dead of the plague, lying in an open 
close belonging to Coome farme, which was carried out 
last night, and the parish have not appointed any body 
to bury it ; but only set a watch there all day and night, 
that nobody should go thither or come thence : this disease 
making us more cruel to one another than we are to dogs. 
Walked to Redriffe, troubled to go through the little lane 
where the plague is, but did, and took water and home, 
where all well. 

August 25, 1665. 

This day I am told that Dr. Burnett, my physician, is 
this morning dead of the plague ; which is strange, his 
man dying so long ago, and his house this month open 
again. Now himself dead. Poor unfortunate man ! 

August 31, 1665. 

Up : and, after putting several things in order to my 
removal, to Woolwich ; the plague having a great encrease 

239 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

this week, beyond all expectation, of almost 2,000, making 
the general Bill 7,000, odd 100 ; and the plague above 
6,000. Thus this month ends with great sadness upon the 
publick, through the greatness of the plague everywhere 
through the kingdom almost. Every day sadder and 
sadder news of its encrease. In the City died this week 
7,496, and of them 6,102 of the plague. But it is feared 
that the true number of the dead this week is near 1 0,000 ; 
partly from the poor that cannot be taken notice of, 
through the greatness of the number, and partly from the 
Quakers and others that will not have any bell ring for 
them. 

August 31, 1665. 

As to myself, I am very well, only in fear of the plague, 
and as much of an ague, by being forced to go early and 
late to Woolwich, and my family to lie there continually. 

September 3, 1665. 

(Lord's day.) Up, and put on my coloured silk suit 
very fine, and my new periwigg, bought a good while 
since, but durst not wear, because the plague was in 
Westminster when I bought it ; and it is a wonder what 
will be the fashion after the plague is done, as to peri- 
wiggs, for nobody will dare to buy any haire, for fear of 
the infection, that it had been cut off the heads of people 
dead of the plague. 

September 20, 1665. 

Lord ! what a sad time it is to see no boats upon the 
river ; and grass grows all up and down White Hall 

240 



MR. PEPYS'S RECORD OF THE PLAGUE 

court, and nobody but poor wretches in the streets ! 
And, which is worst of all, the Duke showed us the 
number of the plague this week, brought in the last night 
from the Lord Mayor ; that it is encreased about 600 
more than the last, which is quite contrary to our hopes 
and expectations, from the coldness of the late season. 
For the whole general number is 8,297, anc ^ °f them the 
plague 7,165 ; which is more in the whole, by above 50, 
than the biggest Bill yet : which is very grievous to us 
all. I find Sir W. Batten and his lady gone home to 
Walthamstow, with some necessity, hearing that a maid- 
servant of their's is taken ill. 

October 4, 1665. 

This night comes Sir George Smith to see me at the 
office, and tells me how the plague is decreased this week 
740, for which God be praised ! but that it encreases at 
our end of the town still. 

November 15, 1665. 

The plague, blessed be God ! is decreased 400 ; making 
the whole this week about 1,300 and odd : for which the 
Lord be praised. 

January 22, 1665-66. 

The first meeting of Gresham College since the plague. 
Dr. Goddard did fill us with talk, in defence of his and his 
fellow physicians going out of town in the plague-time ; 
saying, that their particular patients were most gone out 
of town, and they left at liberty ; and a great deal more. 

24I R 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

February 12, 1665—66. 

Comes Mr. Caesar, my boy's lute-master, whom I 
have not seen since the plague before, but he hath 
been in Westminster all this while, very well ; and 
tells me, in the height of it, how bold people there 
were, to go in sport to one another's burials ; and in 
spite, too, ill people would breathe in the faces, out of 
their windows, of well people going by. 



242 






MR. PEPYS'S ACCOUNT OF THE GREAT FIRE 



MR. PEPYS'S ACCOUNT OF THE 
GREAT FIRE OF LONDON 

September 2, 1666. 

(Lord's day.) Some of our maids sitting up late last 
night to get things ready against our feast to-day, Jane 
called us up about three in the morning, to tell us of a 
great fire they saw in the City. So I rose, and slipped 
on my night-gown, and went to her window ; and 
thought it to be on the back-side of Marke-lane at the 
farthest; but, being unused to such fires as followed, I 
thought it far enough off; and so went to bed again, 
and to sleep. About seven rose again to dress myself, 
and there looked out at the window, and saw the fire not 
so much as it was, and further off. So to my closet to 
set things to rights, after yesterday's cleaning. By and 
by Jane comes and tells me that she hears that above 
300 houses have been burned down to-night by the fire 
we saw, and that it is now burning down all Fish Street, 
by London Bridge. So I made myself ready presently, 
and walked to the Tower ; and there got up upon one 
of the high places, Sir J. Robinson's little son going up 
with me ; and there I did see the houses at that end of 

2 43 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

the bridge all on fire, and an infinite great fire on this 
and the other side the end of the bridge ; which, among 
other people, did trouble me for poor little Michell and 
our Sarah on the bridge. So down, with my heart full 
of trouble, to the Lieutenant of the Tower, who tells me 
that it begun this morning in the King's baker's house in 
Pudding-lane, and that it hath burned down St. Magnus's 
Church and most part of Fish Street already. So I down 
to the water-side, and there got a boat, and through 
bridge, and there saw a lamentable fire. Poor Michell's 
house, as far as the Old Swan, already burned that way, 
and the fire running further, that, in a very little time, 
it got as far as the Steele-yard, while I was there. 
Every body endeavouring to remove their goods, and 
flinging into the river, or bringing them into lighters 
that lay off ; poor people staying in their houses as long 
as till the very fire touched them, and then running into 
boats, or clambering from one pair of stairs, by the water- 
side, to another. And, among other things, the poor 
pigeons, I perceive, were loth to leave their houses, but 
hovered about the windows and balconys, till they burned 
their wings and fell down. Having staid, and in an 
hour's time seen the fire rage every way ; and nobody, 
to my sight, endeavouring to quench it, but to remove 
their goods, and leave all to the fire ; and, having seen 
it get as far as the Steele-yard, and the wind mighty high, 
and driving it into the City ; and everything, after so 
long a drought, proving combustible, even the very stones 
of churches ; and, among other things, the poor steeple 

by which pretty Mrs. lives, and whereof my old 

244 



MR. PEPYS'S ACCOUNT OF THE GREAT FIRE 

schoolfellow Elborough is parson, taken fire in the very- 
top, and there burned till it fell down ; I to White Hall, 
with a gentleman with me, who desired to go off from 
the Tower, to see the fire, in my boat ; and there up to 
the King's closet in the Chapel, where people come 
about me, and I did give them an account dismayed them 
all, and word was carried in to the King. So I was 
called for, and did tell the King and Duke of York 
what I saw ; and that, unless his Majesty did command 
houses to be pulled down, nothing could stop the fire. 
They seemed much troubled, and the King commanded 
me to go to my Lord Mayor from him, and command 
him to spare no houses, but to pull down before the fire 
every way. The Duke of York bid me tell him, that 
if he would have any more soldiers, he shall ; and so did 
my Lord Arlington afterwards, as a great secret. Here 
meeting with Captain Cocke, I in his coach, which he 
lent me, and Creed with me to Paul's ; and there walked 
along Watling Street, as well as I could, every creature 
coming away loaden with goods to save, and, here and 
there, sick people carried away in beds. Extraordinary- 
good goods carried in carts and on backs. At last met 
my Lord Mayor in Canning Street, like a man spent, 
with a handkercher about his neck. To the King's 
message, he cried, like a fainting woman, " Lord ! what 
can I do ? I am spent : people will not obey me. I 
have been pulling down houses ; but the fire overtakes 
us faster than we can do it." That he needed no more 
soldiers ; and that, for himself, he must go and refresh 
himself, having been up all night. So he left me, and I 

245 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

him, and walked home ; seeing people all almost dis- 
tracted, and no manner or means used to quench the fire. 
The houses, too, so very thick thereabouts, and full of 
matter for burning, as pitch and tar, in Thames Street ; 
and warehouses of oyle, and wines, and brandy, and other 
things. Here I saw Mr. Isaac Houblon, the handsome 
man, prettily dressed and dirty at his door at Dowgate, 
receiving some of his brother's things, whose houses were 
on fire ; and, as he says, have been removed twice already ; 
and he doubts, as it soon proved, that they must be, in a 
little time, removed from his house also, which was a sad 
consideration. And to see the churches all filling with 
goods by people who themselves should have been quietly 
there at this time. By this time, it was about twelve 
o'clock ; and so home, and there find my guests, who 
were Mr. Wood and his wife Barbary Shelden, and also 
Mr. Moone : she mighty fine, and her husband, for 
aught I see, a likely man. But Mr. Moone's design and 
mine, which was to look over my closet, and please him 
with the sight thereof, which he hath long desired, was 
wholly disappointed ; for we were in great trouble and 
disturbance at this fire, not knowing what to think of 
it. However, we had an extraordinary good dinner, and 
as merry as at this time we could be. While at dinner, 
Mrs. Batelier come to enquire after Mr. Woolfe and 
Stanes, who, it seems, are related to them, whose houses 
in Fish Street are all burned, and they in a sad condition. 
She would not stay in the fright. Soon as dined, I and 
Moone away, and walked through the City, the streets 
full of nothing but people ; and horses and carts loaden 

246 



MR. PEPYS'S ACCOUNT OF THE GREAT FIRE 

with goods, ready to run over one another, and removing 
goods from one burned house to another. They now 
removing out of Canning Street, which received goods 
in the morning, into Lumbard Street, and further : and, 
among others, I now saw my little goldsmith Stokes, 
receiving some friend's goods, whose house itself was 
burned the day after. We parted at Paul's ; he home, 
and I to Paul's Wharf, where I had appointed a boat to 
attend me, and took in Mr. Carcasse and his brother, 
whom I met in the street, and carried them below and 
above bridge too. And again to see the fire, which was 
now got further, both below and above, and no likelihood 
of stopping it. Met with the King and Duke of York 
in their barge, and with them to Queenhithe, and there 
called Sir Richard Browne to them. Their order was 
only to pull down houses apace, and so below bridge at 
the water-side ; but this little was or could be done, the 
fire coming upon them so fast. Good hopes there was 
of stopping it at the Three Cranes above, and at Buttulph's 
Wharf below bridge, if care be used; but the wind carries 
it into the City, so as we know not, by the water-side, 
what it do there. River full of lighters and boats taking 
in goods, and good goods swimming in the water ; and 
only I observed that hardly one lighter or boat in three 
that had the goods or a house in, but there was a pair of 
Virginalls x in it. Having seen as much as I could now, 
I away to White Hall by appointment, and there walked 
to St. James's Park ; and there met my wife, and Creed, 
and Wood, and his wife, and walked to my boat ; and 

1 A sort of spinet, so called from young women playing upon it. 
247 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

there upon the water again, and to the fire up and down, 
it still encreasing, and the wind great. So near the fire 
as we could for smoke ; and all over the Thames, with 
one's faces in the wind, you were almost burned with a 
shower of fire-drops. This is very true : so as houses 
were burned by these drops and flakes of fire, three or 
four, nay, five or six houses, one from another. When 
we could endure no more upon the water, we to a little 
alehouse on the Bankside, over against the Three Cranes, 
and there staid till it was dark almost, and saw the fire 
grow ; and, as it grew darker, appeared more and more ; 
and in corners and upon steeples, and between churches 
and houses, as far as we could see up the hill of the City, 
in a most horrid, malicious, bloody flame, not like the fine 
flame of an ordinary fire. Barbary and her husband away 
before us. We staid till, it being darkish, we saw the 
fire as only one entire arch of fire from this to the other 
side the bridge, and in a bow up the hill for an arch of 
above a mile long : it made me weep to see it. The 
churches, houses, and all on fire, and flaming at once ; 
and a horrid noise the flames made, and the cracking of 
houses at their ruine. So home with a sad heart, and 
there find every body discoursing and lamenting the fire ; 
and poor Tom Hater come with some few of his goods 
saved out of his house, which was burned upon Fish Street 
Hill. I invited him to lie at my house, and did receive 
his goods ; but was deceived in his lying there, the news 
coming every moment of the growth of the fire; so as 
we were forced to begin to pack up our own goods, and 
prepare for their removal ; and did by moonshine, it 

248 



MR. PEPYS'S ACCOUNT OF THE GREAT FIRE 

being brave, dry, and moonshine and warm weather, 
cany much of my goods into the garden ; and Mr. Hater 
and I did remove my money and iron chests into my 
cellar, as thinking that the safest place. And got my 
bags of gold into my office, ready to carry away, and my 
chief papers of accounts also there, and my tallies into 
a box by themselves. So great was our fear, as Sir W. 
Batten hath carts come out of the country to fetch away 
his goods this night. We did put Mr. Hater, poor 
man ! to bed a little ; but he got but very little rest, 
so much noise being in my house, taking down of 
goods. 

September 3, 1666. 

About four o'clock in the morning, my Lady Batten 
sent me a cart to carry away all my money, and plate, 
and best things, to Sir W. Rider's at Bednall Greene, 
which I did, riding myself in my night-gown, in the 
cart ; and, Lord ! to see how the streets and the high- 
ways are crowded with people, running and riding, and 
getting of carts at any rate to fetch away things. I find 
Sir W. Rider tired with being called up all night, and 
receiving things from several friends. His house full of 
goods, and much of Sir W. Batten's and Sir W. Pen's. 
I am eased at my heart to have my treasure so well 
secured. Then home, and with much ado to find a way, 
nor any sleep all this night to me nor my poor wife. But 
then all this day she and I and all my people labouring 
to get away the rest of our things, and did get Mr. 
Tooker to get me a lighter to take them in, and we did 

249 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

carry them, myself some, over Tower Hill, which was 
by this time full of people's goods, bringing their goods 
thither ; and down to the lighter, which lay at the next 
quay, above the Tower Dock. And here was my 

neighbour's wife, Mrs. , with her pretty child, and 

some few of her things, which I did willingly give way 
to be saved with mine ; but there was no passing with 
any thing through the postern, the crowd was so great. 
The Duke of York come this day by the office, and 
spoke to us, and did ride with his guard up and down 
the City to keep all quiet, he being now General, and 
having the care of all. This day, Mercer being not at 
home, but against her mistress's order gone to her 
mother's, and my wife going thither to speak with 
W. Hewer, beat her there, and was angry ; and her 
mother saying that she was not a 'prentice girl, to ask 
leave every time she goes abroad, my wife with good 
reason was angry ; and, when she come home, did bid 
her be gone again. And so she went away, which 
troubled me, but yet less than it would, because of the 
condition we are in, in fear of coming in a little time to 
being less able to keep one in her quality. At night, 
lay down a little upon a quilt of W. Hewer's in the 
office, all my own things being packed up or gone ; 
and, after me, my poor wife did the like, we having 
fed upon the remains of yesterday's dinner, having no 
fire nor dishes, nor any opportunity of dressing any 
thing. 



250 



MR. PEPYS'S ACCOUNT OF THE GREAT FIRE 

September 4, 1666. 

Up by break of day, to get away the remainder 
of my things ; which I did by a lighter at the Iron 
gate : and my hands so full, that it was the afternoon 
before we could get them all away. Sir W. Pen and I 
to the Tower Street, and there met the fire burning, 
three or four doors beyond Mr. Howell's, whose goods, 
poor man, his trayes, and dishes, shovells, &c, were flung 
all along Tower Street in the kennels, and people 
working therewith from one end to the other ; the 
fire coming on in that narrow street, on both sides, with 
infinite fury. Sir W. Batten not knowing how to 
remove his wine, did dig a pit in the garden, and laid 
it in there ; and I took the opportunity of laying all 
the papers of my office that I could not otherwise dispose 
of. And in the evening Sir W. Pen and I did dig 
another, and put our wine in it ; and I my parmazan 
cheese, as well as my wine and some other things. The 
Duke of York was at the office this day, at Sir W. Pen's ; 
but I happened not to be within. This afternoon, sitting 
melancholy with Sir W. Pen in our garden, and thinking 
of the certain burning of this office, without extraordinary 
means, I did propose for the sending up of all our work- 
men from the Woolwich and Deptford yards, none 
whereof yet appeared, and to write to Sir W. Coventry 
to have the Duke of York's permission to pull down 
houses, rather than lose this office, which would much 
hinder the King's business. So Sir W. Pen went down 
this night, in order to the sending them up to-morrow 
morning ; and I wrote to Sir W. Coventry about the 

251 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

business, 1 but received no answer. This night, Mrs. 
Turner, who, poor woman, was removing her goods 
all this day, good goods, into the garden, and knows 
not how to dispose of them, and her husband supped 
with my wife and me at night, in the office, upon a 
shoulder of mutton from the cook's without any napkin, 
or any thing, in a sad manner, but were merry. Only 
now and then, walking into the garden, saw how horribly 
the sky looks, all on a fire in the night, was enough to 
put us out of our wits ; and, indeed, it was extremely 
dreadful, for it looks just as if it was at us, and the whole 
heaven on fire. I after supper walked in the dark down 
to Tower Street, and there saw it all on fire, at the 
Trinity House on that side, and the Dolphin Tavern on 
this side, which was very near us ; and the fire with 
extraordinary vehemence. Now begins the practice of 
blowing up of houses in Tower Street, those next the 

1 The letter, among the Pepys MSS., was as follows : — 

Sir, — The fire is now very neere us, as well on Tower Streete as Fan- 
church Street side, and we little hope of our escape but by that remedy, to 
y e want whereof we doe certainly owe y e loss of y e City, namely, y e pulling 
down of houses in y e way of y e fire. This way Sir W. Pen and myself 
have so far concluded upon y e practising, that he is gone to Woolwich 
and Deptford to supply himself with men and necessaries in order to the 
doeing thereof ; in case, at his returne, our condition be not bettered, 
and that he meets with his R. H s approbation, which I have thus 
undertaken to learn of you. Pray please to let me have this night, 
at whatever hour it is, what his R. H s directions are in this parti- 
cular. Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten having left us, we cannot add, 
though we are well assured of their, as well as all y e neighbourhood's 
concurrence. 

Y' obedient Serv nt . 

Sir W. Coventry, S. P. 

Sepf. 4, 1666. 

252 



MR. PEPYS'S ACCOUNT OF THE GREAT FIRE 

Tower, which at first did frighten people more than any 
thing ; but it stopped the fire where it was done, it 
bringing down the houses to the ground in the same 
places they stood, and then it was easy to quench what 
little fire was in it, though it kindled nothing almost. 
W. Hewer this day went to see how his mother did, and 
comes late home, telling us how he hath been forced to 
remove her to Islington, her house in Pye Corner being 
burned ; so that the fire is got so far that way, and to 
the Old Bayly, and was running down to Fleet Street ; 
and Paul's is burned, and all Cheapside. I wrote to my 
father this night, but the post-house being burned, the 
letter could not go. 

September 5, 1666. 

I lay down in the office again upon W. Hewer's quilt, 
being mighty weary, and sore in my feet with going till 
I was hardly able to stand. About two in the morning 
my wife calls me up, and tells me of new cryes of fire, 
it being come to Barking Church, which is the bottom 
of our lane. 1 I up ; and finding it so, resolved presently 
to take her away, and did, and took my gold, which was 
about ^2,350, W. Hewer and Jane down by Proundy's 
boat to Woolwich ; but, Lord ! what a sad sight it was 
by moone-light, to see the whole City almost on fire, that 
you might see it as plain at Woolwich, as if you were 
by it. There, when I come, I find the gates shut, but 
no guard kept at all ; which troubled me, because of 
discourses now begun, that there is a plot in it, and that 

1 Seething Lane. 
253 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

the French had done it. I got the gates open, and to 
Mr. Shelden's, where I locked up my gold, and charged 
my wife and W. Hewer never to leave the room without 
one of them in it, night or day. So back again, by the 
way seeing my goods well in the lighters at Deptford, 
and watched well by people. Home, and whereas I 
expected to have seen our house on fire, it being now 
about seven o'clock, it was not. But to the fire, and 
there find greater hopes than I expected ; for my con- 
fidence of finding our office on fire was such, that I 
durst not ask any body how it was with us, till I come 
and saw it was not burned. But, going to the fire, I find, 
by the blowing up of houses, and the great help given 
by the workmen out of the King's yards, sent up by Sir 
W. Pen, there is a good stop given to it, as well at Marke 
Lane End as ours ; it having only burned the dyall of 
Barking Church, and part of the porch, and was there 
quenched. I up to the top of Barking steeple, and there 
saw the saddest sight of desolation that I ever saw ; every 
where great fires, oyle-cellars, and brimstone, and other 
things burning. I became afraid to stay there long, and 
therefore down again as fast as I could, the fire being 
spread as far as I could see it ; and to Sir W. Pen's, and 
there eat a piece of cold meat, having eaten 1 nothing 
since Sunday, but the remains of Sunday's dinner. Here 
I met with Mr. Young and Whistler ; and, having 
removed all my things, and received good hopes that 
the fire at our end is stopped, they and I walked into 
the town, and find Fenchurch Street, Gracious Street, 

1 He forgot the shoulder of mutton from the cook's the day before. 
254 



MR. PEPYS'S ACCOUNT OF THE GREAT FIRE 



and Lumbard Street all in dust. The Exchange a sad 
sight, nothing standing there, of all the statues or 
pillars, but Sir Thomas Gresham's picture in the corner. 
Into Moore-fields, our feet ready to burn, walking 
through the town among the hot coles, and find that 
full of people, and poor wretches carrying their goods 
there, and every body keeping his goods together by 
themselves ; and a great blessing it is to them that it is 
fair weather for them to keep abroad night and day ; 
drunk there, and paid twopence for a plain penny loaf. 
Thence homeward, having passed through Cheapside, and 
Newgate market, all burned ; and seen Anthony Joyce's 
house in fire ; and took up, which I keep by me, a piece 
of glass of the Mercer's chapel in the street, where much 
more was, so melted and buckled with the heat of the 
fire like parchment. I also did see a poor cat taken out 
of a hole in a chimney, joyning to the wall of the 
Exchange, with the hair all burnt off the body, and yet 
alive. So home at night, and find there good hopes of 
saving our office ; but great endeavours of watching all 
night, and having men ready ; and so we lodged them 
in the office, and had drink and bread and cheese for 
them. And I lay down and slept a good night about 
midnight : though, when I rose, I heard that there had 
been a great alarme of French and Dutch being risen, 
which proved nothing. But it is a strange thing to see 
how long this time did look since Sunday, having been 
always full of variety of actions, and little sleep, that it 
looked like a week or more, and I had forgot almost the 
day of the week. 

255 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

September 6, 1666. 

Up about five o'clock, and met Mr. Gauden at the 
gate of the office, I intending to go out, as I used, every 
now and then, to-day, to see how the fire is, to call our 
men to Bishop's-gate, where no fire had yet been near, 
and there is now one broke out : which did give great 
grounds to people, and to me too, to think that there is 
some kind of plot in this, on which many by this time 
have been taken, and it hath been dangerous for any 
stranger to walk in the streets, but I went with the 
men, and we did put it out in a little time ; so that that 
was well again. It was pretty to see how hard the 
women did work in the cannells, sweeping of water ; 
but then they would scold for drink, and be as drunk as 
devils. I saw good butts of sugar broke open in the 
street, and people give and take handfuls out, and put 
into beer, and drink it. And now all being pretty well, 
I took boat, and over to Southwarke, and took boat on 
the other side the bridge, and so to Westminster, thinking 
to shift myself, being all in dirt from top to bottom; but 
could not there find any place to buy a shirt or a pair of 
gloves, Westminster Hall being full of people's goods, 
those in Westminster having removed all their goods, 
and the Exchequer money put into vessels to carry to 
Nonsuch ; but to the Swan, and there was trimmed : 
and then to White Hall, but saw nobody ; and so home. 
A sad sight to see how the river looks : no houses nor 
church near it, to the Temple, where it stopped. At 
home, did go with Sir W. Batten, and our neighbour, 
Knightly, who, with one more, was the only man of any 

256 



MR. PEPYS'S ACCOUNT OF THE GREAT FIRE 

fashion left in all the neighbourhood thereabouts, they all 
removing their goods, and leaving their houses to the 
mercy of the fire ; to Sir R. Ford's, and there dined in 
an earthen platter — a fried breast of mutton ; a great 
many of us, but very merry, and indeed as good a meal, 
though as ugly a one, as ever I had in my life. Thence 
down to Deptford, and there with great satisfaction 
landed all my goods at Sir G. Carteret's safe, and nothing 
missed I could see or hear. This being done to my great 
content, I home, and to Sir W. Batten's, and there, with 
Sir R. Ford, Mr. Knightly, and one Withers, a professed 
lying rogue, supped well, and mighty merry, and our 
fears over. From them to the office, and there slept 
with the office full of labourers, who talked, and slept, 
and walked all night long there. But strange it is to 
see Clothworkers' Hall on fire these three days and nights 
in one body of flame, it being the cellar full of oyle. 

September 7, 1666. 

Up by five o'clock ; and, blessed be God ! find all well ; 
and by water to Pane's Wharfe. Walked thence, and 
saw all the towne burned, and a miserable sight of Paul's 
church, with all the roofs fallen, and the body of the 
quire fallen into St. Fayth's ; Paul's school also, Ludgate, 
and Fleet Street. My father's house, and the church, 
and a good part of the Temple the like. So to Creed's 
lodging, near the New Exchange, and there find him laid 
down upon a bed ; the house all unfurnished, there being 
fears of the fire's coming to them. There borrowed a 
shirt of him, and washed. To Sir W. Coventry at St. 

257 s 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

James's, who lay without curtains, having removed all 
his goods ; as the King at White Hall, and every body 
had done, and was doing. He hopes we shall have no 
public distractions upon this fire, which is what every body 
fears, because of the talk of the French having a hand in it. 

September 8, 1 666. 

I met with many people undone, and more that have 
extraordinary great losses. People speaking their thoughts 
variously about the beginning of the fire, and the rebuild- 
ing of the City. Then to Sir W. Batten's, and took my 
brother with me, and there dined with a great company 
of neighbours, and much good discourse ; among others, 
of the low spirits of some rich men in the City, in sparing 
any encouragement to the poor people that wrought 
for the saving their houses. Among others, Alderman 
Starling, a very rich man, without children, the fire at 
next door to him in our lane, after our men had saved 
his house, did give 2S. 6d. among thirty of them, and did 
quarrel with some that would remove the rubbish out of 
the way of the fire, saying that they come to steal. Sir 
W. Coventry told me of another this morning in 
Holborne, which he showed the King : that when it 
was offered to stop the fire near his house for such a 
reward that come but to 2s. 6d. a man, among the 
neighbours, he would give but i8d. 

September 10, 1666. 

All the morning clearing our cellars, and breaking in 
pieces all my old lumber, to make room, and to prevent 

258 



MR. PEPYS'S ACCOUNT OF THE GREAT FIRE 

fire. And then to Sir W. Batten's, and dined ; and 
there hear that Sir W. Rider says that the town is full 
of the report of the wealth that is in his house, and 
he would be glad that his friends would provide for 
the safety of their goods there. This made me get a 
cart ; and thither, and there brought my money all 
away. 



259 



ED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 



MR. PEPYS IS SUPERSTITIOUS 

April 8, 1 66 1. 

We supped very merry, and late to bed ; Sir William 
telling me that old Edgeborrow, his predecessor, did die 
and walk in my chamber, did make me somewhat 
afraid, but not so much as, for mirth sake, I did seem. 
So to bed, in the Treasurer's chamber. 

April 9, 1 66 1. 

Lay and slept well till three in the morning, and then 
waking, and by the light of the moon I saw my pillow 
(which overnight I flung from me) stand upright, but, 
not bethinking myself what it might be, I was a little 
afraid, but sleep overcome all, and so lay till nigh 
morning, at which time I had a candle brought me, 
and a good fire made, and in general it was a great 
pleasure all the time I staid here to see how I am 
respected and honoured by all people ; and I find that 
I begin to know now how to receive so much reverence, 
which, at the beginning, I could not tell how to do. 

260 






MR. PEPYS IS SUPERSTITIOUS 

June 15, 1663. 

Both at and after dinner, we had great discourses of 
the nature and power of spirits, and whether they can 
animate dead bodies ; in all which, as of the general 
appearance of spirits, my Lord Sandwich is very scepti- 
call. He says the greatest warrants that ever he had 
to believe any, is the present appearing of the Devil 
in Wiltshire, much of late talked of, who beats a drum 
up and down. There are books of it, and, they say, 
very true ; but my Lord observes, though he do answer 
any tune that you will play to him upon another drum, 
yet one time he tried to play and could not ; which 
makes him suspect the whole ; and I think it is a good 
argument. 

October 19, 1663. 

Waked with a very high wind, and said to my wife, 
"I pray God I hear not of the death of any great 
person, this wind is so high ! " fearing that the Queen 
might be dead. 1 

'January 20, 1664—65. 

To my bookseller's, and there took home Hook's 
book of Microscopy, a most excellent piece, and of 
which I am very proud. Homeward, in my way buying 
a hare, and taking it home, which arose upon my dis- 
course to-day with Mr. Batten, in Westminster Hall, 
who showed me my mistake that my hare's foot hath 
not the joynt to it ; and assures me he never had his 

1 The Queen was seriously ill at this time. — E. F. A. 
26l 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

cholique since he carried it about him : and it is a 
strange thing how fancy works, for I no sooner handled 
his foot, but I become very well, and so continue. 

January 21, 1664-65. 

Now mighty well, and truly I can but impute it to 
my fresh hare's foote. 

July 31, 1665. 

This evening with Mr. Brisband, speaking of en- 
chantments and spells, I telling him some of my 
charmes ; he told me this, of his own knowledge, at 
Bourdeaux, in France. The words were these : — 

Voyci un Corps mort, 

Royde come un Baston, 

Froid comme Marbre, 

Leger come un Esprit, 

Levons le au nom de Jesus Christ. 

He saw four little girls, very young ones — all kneel- 
ing, each of them, upon one knee ; and one begun the 
first line, whispering in the eare of the next, and the 
second to the third, and the third to the fourth, and she 
to the first. Then the first begun the second line, and 
so round quite through ; and, putting each one finger 
only to a boy that lay flat upon his back on the ground, 
as if he was dead ; at the end of the words, they did 
with their four fingers raise this boy as high as they 
could reach ; and Mr. Brisband, being there, and 
wondering at it, as also being afraid to see it, for 
they would have had him to have bore a part in 

262 



MR. PEPYS IS SUPERSTITIOUS 

saying the words, in the room of one of the little 
girls that was so young that they could hardly make 
her learn to repeat the words, did, for fear there might 
be some slight used in it by the boy, or that the 
boy might be light, call the cook of the house, a very 
lusty fellow, as Sir G. Carteret's cook, who is very big : 
and they did raise him just in the same manner. 1 This 
is one of the strangest things I ever heard, but he tells 
it me of his own knowledge, and I do heartily believe it 
to be true. I enquired of him whether they were Pro- 
testant or Catholique girls ; and he told me they were 
Protestant, which made it the more strange to me. 

1 The secret is now well known, and is described by Sir David Brewster, 
in his Natural Magic, p. 256 : — "One of the most remarkable and inex- 
plicable experiments relative to the strength of the human frame, is that in 
which a heavy man is raised up the instant that his own lungs and those of 
the persons who raise him are inflated with air. This experiment was, I 
believe, first shown in England a few years ago by Major H., who saw it 
performed in a large party at Venice, under the direction of an officer of 
the American navy. As Major H. performed it more than once in my 
presence, I shall describe as nearly as possible the method which he pre- 
scribed. The heaviest person in the party lies down upon two chairs, his 
legs being supported by the one, and his back by the other. Four persons, 
one at each leg, and one at each shoulder, then try to raise him, and they 
find his dead weight to be very great, from the difficulty they experience in 
supporting him. When he is replaced in the chair, each of the four persons 
takes hold of the body, as before, and the person to be lifted gives two 
signals, by clapping his hands. At the first signal, he himself and the four 
lifters begin to draw a long and full breath j and when the inhalation is 
completed, or the lungs filled, the second signal is given for raising the 
person from the chair. To his own surprise and that of his bearers, he 
rises with the greatest facility, as if he were no heavier than a feather. On 
several occasions, I have observed, that when one of the bearers performs his 
part ill, by making the inhalation out of time, the part of the body which 
he tries to raise is left as it were behind. As you have repeatedly seen 

263 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

March 23, 1669. 

After supper, we fell to talk of spirits and apparitions, 
whereupon many pretty, particular stories were told, so 
as to make me almost afraid to be alone, but for shame 
I could not help it : and so to bed ; and being sleepy, 
fell soon to rest, and so rested well. 

this experiment, and have performed the part both of the load and of the 
bearer, you can testify how remarkable the effects appear to all parties, and 
how complete is the conviction, either that the load has been lightened, or 
the bearer strengthened, by the prescribed process. At Venice, the experi- 
ment was performed in a much more imposing manner. The heaviest man in 
the party was raised and sustained upon the points of the forefingers of six 
persons. Major H. declared that the experiment would not succeed, if the 
person lifted were placed upon a board, and the strength of the individuals 
applied to the board. He conceived it necessary that the bearers should 
communicate directly with the body to be raised. I have not had an oppor- 
tunity of making any experiments relative to these curious facts : but, 
whether the general effect is an illusion, or the result of known or new 
principles, the subject merits a careful investigation." I learn, on the 
authority of Dr. Maitland, that a similar experiment was once tried in 
Gloucestershire, upon a very stout gentleman ; and that the lifters were so 
astonished at their success, that they permitted him to fall to the ground, 
to his sore discomfiture. Ex. infor. W. J. Thorns. It would be very 
serious, if these experiments were frequent, to find oneself the heaviest 
person in a party. 



264 



MR. PEPYS'S VALENTINES 



MR. PEPYS'S VALENTINES 

February 14, 1 661-62. 

(Valentine's day.) I did this day purposely shun to 
be seen at Sir W. Batten's, because I would not have 
his daughter to be my Valentine, as she was the last 
year, there being no great friendship between us now, 
as formerly. This morning in comes W. Bowyer, who 
was my wife's Valentine, she having, at which I made 
good sport to myself, held her hands all the morning, 
that she might not see the paynters that were at work 
in gilding my chimney-piece and pictures in my dining- 
room. 

February 14, 1666-67. 

This morning come up to my wife's bedside, I being 
up dressing myself, little Will Mercer to be her Valen- 
tine ; and brought her name writ upon blue paper in 
gold letters, done by himself very pretty ; and we were 
both well pleased with it. But I am also this year my 
wife's Valentine, and it will cost me £5 ; but that I 
must have laid out if we had not been Valentines. 

265 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

February 14, 1667-68. 

(Valentine's day.) Up, being called up by Mercer, 
who come to be my Valentine, and I did give her a 
guinny in gold for her Valentine's gift. There comes 
Roger Pepys betimes, and comes to my wife, for her to 
be his Valentine, whose Valentine I was also, by agree- 
ment to be so to her every year ; and this year I find 
it is likely to cost £4. or ^5 in a ring for her, which 
she desires. 

February 14, 1668-69. 

To my cozen Turner's, where, having the last night 
been told by her that she had drawn me for her Valen- 
tine, I did this day call at the New Exchange, and 
bought her a pair of green silk stockings and garters and 
shoe-strings, and two pair of jessimy gloves, all coming 
to about 28s., and did give them to her this noon. 



266 



MR. PEPYS AND THE FAIR SEX 



MR. PEPYS AND THE FAIR SEX 

August 3, 1660. 

By coach with my wife to Dr. Clerke's to dinner. I 
was very much taken with his lady, a comely, proper 
woman, though not handsome, but a woman of the best 
language I ever heard. 

August 6, 1 66 1. 

Home to my father, who could discerne that I had 
been drinking, which he did never see or hear of 
before : so I eat a bit of dinner, and then took horse for 
London, and with much ado, the ways being very bad, 
got to Baldwick. There lay, and had a good supper by 
myself. The landlady being a pretty woman, but I 
durst not take notice of her, her husband being there. 

August 10, 1 66 1. 

This morning come the mayde that my wife hath 
lately hired for a chamber-mayde. She is very ugly, 
so that I cannot care for her, but otherwise she seems 

very good. 

267 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

August 31, 1661. 

To Bartholomew faire, and there met with my 
Ladies Jemimah and Paulina, with Mr. Pickering and 
Madamoiselle, 1 at seeing the monkeys dance, which was 
much to see, when they could be brought to do, but it 
troubled me to sit among such nasty company. After 
that, with them into Christ's Hospitall, and there Mr. 
Pickering bought them some fairings, and I did give 
every one of them a bauble, which was the little globes 
of glass with things hanging in them, which pleased the 
ladies very well. After that, home with them in their 
coach and there was called up to my Lady, and she 
would have me stay to talk with her, which I did I 
think a full houre. And the poor lady did with so much 
innocency tell me how Mrs. Crispe had told her that she 
did intend, by means of a lady that lies at her house, to 
get the King to be god-father to the young lady that 
she is in child-bed now of; but to see in what manner 
my Lady told it me, protesting that she sweat in the 
very telling of it, was the greatest pleasure to me in the 
world to see the simplicity and harmlessnesse of a lady. 

May 2, 1662. 

To Dr. Clerke's lady, and give her her letter and 
token. She is a very fine woman ; and what with her 
person, and the number of fine ladies that were with 
her, I was much out of countenance, and could hardly 
carry myself like a man among them ; but, however, I 
staid till my courage was up again, and talked to them, 

1 The young ladies' governess. 
268 



MR. PEPYS AND THE FAIR SEX 

and viewed his house, which is most pleasant, and so 
drank and good night. 

June 19, 1662. 

With the last chest of crusados to Alderman Back- 
well's, by the same token his lady going to take coach 
stood in the shop, and having a gilded glass-full of 
perfumed comfits given her by Don Duarte de Silon, 
the Portugall merchant that is come over with the 
Queen, I did offer at a taste, and so she poured some 
out into my hand, and though good, yet pleased me 
the better coming from a pretty lady. 

June 30, 1662. 

To my office, where I fell upon boring holes for 
me to see from my closet into the great office, with- 
out going forth, wherein I please myself much. Told 
my Lady [Carteret] how my Lady Fanshaw is fallen 
out with her only for speaking in behalf of the French, 
which my Lady wonders at, they having been formerly 
like sisters. Thence to my house, where I took great 
pride to lead her through the Court by the hand, she 
being very fine, and her page carrying up her train, 
she staying a little at my house, and then walked 
through the garden, and took water, and went first on 
board the King's pleasure-boat, which pleased her much. 
Then to Greenwiche Parke ; and with much ado she 
was able to walk up to the top of the hill, and so down 
again, and took boat, and so through bridge to Black- 
fryers, and home, she being much pleased with the 

269 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

ramble in every particular of it. So we supped with her, 
and then walked home, and to bed. 

yune 15, 1663. 

Talked of handsome women ; and Sir J. Minnes saying 
that there was no beauty like what he sees in the country 
markets, and specially at Bury, in which I will agree 
with him. My Lord replied thus : Sir John, what do 
you think of your neighbour's wife ? looking upon me. 
Do you not think that he hath a great beauty to his 
wife ? Upon my word he hath. Which I was not a 
little proud of. 

June 14, 1664. 

By coach to Kensington. In the way overtaking Mr. 
Laxton, the apothecary, with his wife and daughters — 
very fine young lasses — in a coach ; and so both of us to 
my Lady Sandwich, who hath lain this fortnight here, at 
Deane Hodges's. Much company come hither to-day — 
my Lady Carteret, &c, Sir William Wheeler and his 
lady, and, above all, Mr. Becke, of Chelsey, and wife and 
daughter, my Lord's mistress, and one that hath not one 
good feature in her face, and yet is a fine lady, of a fine 
taille, and very well carriaged, and mighty discreet. I 
took all the occasion I could to discourse with the young 
ladies in her company to give occasion to her to talk, 
which now and then she did, and that mighty finely, and 
is, I perceive, a woman of such an ayre, as I wonder the 
less at my Lord's favour to her, and I dare warrant him 
she hath brains enough to entangle him. Two or three 

270 



MR. PEPYS AND THE FAIR SEX 

hours we were in her company, going into Sir H. 
Finche's garden, and seeing the fountayne, and singing 
there with the ladies, and a mighty fine cool place it is, 
with a great laver of water in the middle, and the bravest 
place for musick I ever heard. After much mirth, dis- 
coursing to the ladies in defence of the city against the 
country or court, and giving them occasion to invite 
themselves to-morrow to me to dinner to my venison 
pasty, I got their mother's leave, and so good night, very 
well pleased with my day's work, and, above all, that I 
have seen my Lord's mistress. 

September 6, 1 664. 

Called upon Doll, our pretty 'Change woman, for a 
pair of gloves trimmed with yellow ribbon, to [match] the 
petticoat my wife bought yesterday, which cost me 20s. ; 
but she is so pretty, that, God forgive me ! I could not 
think it too much, which is a strange slavery that I stand 
in to beauty, that I value nothing near it. 

February 3, 1664-65. 

To my uncle Wight's, where the Wights all dined ; 
and, among the others, pretty Mrs. Margaret, who 
indeed is a very pretty lady ; and, though by my vow it 
costs me I2d. a kiss after the first, yet I did adventure 
upon a couple. 






March 10, 1666. 

I find at home Mrs. Pierce aud Knipp come to dine 
with me. We were mighty merry ; and, after dinner, I 

271 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

carried them and my wife out by coach to the New Ex- 
change, and there I did give my Valentine, Mrs. Pierce, 
a dozen pair of gloves, and a pair of silk stockings, and 
Knipp for company, though my wife had, by my consent, 
laid out 20s. on her the other day, six pair of gloves. 
The truth is, I do indulge myself a little the more in 
pleasure, knowing that this is the proper age of my life 
to do it ; and, out of my observation that most men that 
do thrive in the world do forget to take pleasure during 
the time that they are getting their estate, but reserve 
that till they have got one, and then it is too late for 
them to enjoy it. 

May 29, 1666. 

My wife comes to me, to tell me, that if I would see 
the handsomest woman in England, I shall come home 
presently ; and who should it be but the pretty lady 
of our parish, that did heretofore sit on the other side of 
our church, over against our gallery, that is since married 
— she with Mrs. Anne Jones, one of this parish, that 
dances finely. And so I home ; and indeed she is a pretty 
black woman — her name Mrs. Horsely. But, Lord ! to 
see how my nature could not refrain from the tempta- 
tion ; but I must invite them to go to Foxhall, to Spring 
Gardens, though I had freshly received minutes of a great 
deal of extraordinary business. However, I sent them 
before with Creed, and I did some of my business ; and 
so after them, and find them there, in an arbour, and had 
met with Mrs. Pierce, and some company with her. So 
here I spent 20s. upon them, and were pretty merry. 

272 



MR. PEPYS AND THE FAIR SEX 

Among other things, had a fellow that imitated all 
manner of birds, and dogs, and hogs, with his voice, which 
was mighty pleasant. Staid here till night : then set Mrs. 
Pierce in at the New Exchange ; and ourselves took coach, 
and so set Mrs. Horsly home, and then home ourselves, 
but with great trouble in the streets, by bonfires, it being 
the King's birthday and day of Restoration ; but, Lord ! 
to see the difference how many there were on the other 
side, and so few on ours, the City side of the Temple, 
would make one wonder the difference between the 
temper of one sort of people and the other : and the differ- 
ence among all between what they do now, and what it was 
the night when Monk come into the City. Such a night 
as that I never think to see again, nor think it can be. 

August 6, 1666. 

After dinner, in comes Mrs. Knipp, and I sat and 
talked with her, it being the first time of her being here 
since her being brought to bed. I very pleasant to her, 
but perceive my wife hath no great pleasure in her being 
here. However, we talked and sang, and were very 
pleasant. By and by comes Mr. Pierce and his wife, the 
first time she also hath been here since her lying-in, both 
having been brought to bed of boys, and both of them 
dead. Knipp and I sang, and then I offered to carry 
them home, and to take my wife with me, but she 
would not go : so I with them, leaving my wife in a 
very ill humour. However, I would not be removed 
from my civility to them, but sent for a coach, and went 
with them ; and in our way, Knipp saying that she 

273 T 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

come out of doors without a dinner to us, I took them 
to Old Fish-street, to the very house and woman where 
I kept my wedding dinner, 1 where I never was since, 
and there I did give them a jole of salmon, and what else 
was to be had. And here we talked of the ill-humour 
of my wife, which I did excuse as much as I could, 
and they seemed to admit of it, but did both confess 
they wondered at it : but from thence to other discourse, 
of my Lord Brouncker. They told me how poorly my 
Lord carried himself the other day to his kinswoman, 
Mrs. Howard, and was displeased because she called 
him uncle to a little gentlewoman that is there with 
him, which he will not admit of; for no relation is 
to be challenged from others to a lord, and did treat 
her thereupon very rudely and ungenteely. Knipp tells 
me, also, that my Lord keeps another woman besides 
Mrs. Williams ; and that, when I was there the other 
day, there was a great hubbub in the house, Mrs. 
Williams being fallen sick, because my Lord was gone 
to his other mistress, making her wait for him till his 
return from the other mistress ; and a great deal of do 
there was about it ; and Mrs. Williams swounded at it, 
at the very time when I wondered at the reason of 
my being received so negligently. I set them both at 
home — Knipp at her house, her husband being at the 
doore ; and glad she was to be found to have staid 
out so long with me and Mrs. Pierce, and none else. 

1 The tavern was evidently selected to mark Pepys's disgust at his 
wife's ill-humour ; but he probably did not venture to mention the 
circumstance, on his return home. 

274 



MR. PEPYS AND THE FAIR SEX 

Home, and there find my wife mightily out of order, and 
reproaching of Mrs. Pierce and Knipp as wenches, and 
I know not what. But I did give her no words to 
offend her, and quietly let all pass. 

August 24, 1666. 

This afternoon comes Mrs. Barbary Sheldon, now Mrs. 
Wood, to see my wife : I was so busy, I would not see 
her. But she come, it seems, mighty rich in rings and 
fine clothes, and like a lady, and says she is matched 
mighty well, at which I am very glad, but wonder at 
her good fortune, and the folly of her husband. 

April 16, 1667. 

Home to dinner, and in haste to carry my wife to see 
the new play I saw yesterday, she not knowing it. But 
there, contrary to expectation, find " The Silent Woman." 
However, in ; and there Knipp come into the pit. I 
took her by me, and here we met with Mrs. Horsly, the 
pretty woman — an acquaintance of Mercer's, whose 
house is burnt. Knipp tells me the King was so angry 
at the liberty taken by Lacy's part to abuse him to his 
face, that he commanded they should act no more, till 
Moone went and got leave for them to act again, but not 
this play. The King mighty angry ; and it was bitter 
indeed, but very fine and witty. I never was more taken 
with a play than I am with this " Silent Woman," as old 
as it is, and as often as I have seen it. There is more 
wit in it than goes to ten new plays. Thence took them 
all to the Cake-house, in Southampton Market-place. 

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RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

Pierce told us the story how, in good earnest, the King is 
offended with the Duke of Richmond's marrying, and 
Mrs. Stewart's sending the King his jewels again. Ashe 
tells it, it is the noblest romance, and example of a brave 
lady that ever I read in my life. Pretty to hear them 
talk of yesterday's play, and I durst not own to my wife 
that I had seen it. 

May I, 1667. 

To Westminster ; in the way meeting many milk- 
maids with their garlands upon their pails, dancing with 
a fiddler before them ; and saw pretty Nelly l standing at 
her lodgings' door in Drury-lane in her smock sleeves 
and bodice, looking upon one ; she seemed a mighty 
pretty creature. 

May 26, 1667. 

(Lord's day.) My wife and I to church, where several 
strangers of good condition come to our pew. After 
dinner I by water alone to Westminster to the parish 
church, and there did entertain myself with my per- 
spective glass up and down the church, by which I had 
the great pleasure of seeing and gazing at a great many 
very fine women ; and what with that, and sleeping, I 
passed away the time till sermon was done. 

August 18, 1667. 

I walked towards White Hall, but, being wearied, 
turned into St. Dunstan's Church, w4iere I heard an able 

1 Nell Gwynne. 
276 



MR. PEPYS AND THE FAIR SEX 

sermon of the minister of the place ; and stood by a 
pretty, modest maid, whom I did labour to take by the 
hand ; but she would not, but got further and further 
from me ; and, at last, I could perceive her to take pins 
out of her pocket to prick me if I should touch her again 
— which, seeing, I did forbear, and was glad I did spy 
her design. And then I fell to gaze upon another pretty 
maid, in a pew close to me, and she on me ; and I did go 
about to take her by the hand, which she suffered a little, 
and then withdrew. So the sermon ended, and the 
church broke up, and my amours ended also. 

August 25, 1667. 

(Lord's day.) Up and to church, and thence home; 
and Pelling comes by invitation to dine with me, and 
much pleasant discourse with him. After dinner, away 
by water to White Hall, where I landed Pelling, who is 
going to his wife, where she is in the country, at Parson's 
Greene ; and myself to Westminster, and to the parish 
church, thinking to see Betty Michell ; and did stay an 
hour in the crowd, thinking, by the end of a nose that I 
saw, that it had been her ; but at last the head turned 
towards me, and it was her mother, which vexed me. 

August 28, 1667. 

In the afternoon with my Lady Batten, Pen, and her 
daughter, and my wife, to Mrs. Poole's, where I mighty 
merry among the women, and christened the child, a 
girl, Elizabeth, which, though a girl, yet my Lady 
Batten would have me to give the name. After 

277 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

christening comes Sir W. Batten, W. Pen, and Mr. 
Lowther, and mighty merry there, and I forfeited for 
not kissing the two godmothers presently after the 
christening, before I kissed the mother, which made 
good mirth. 

July 20, 1668. 

To the old Exchange, to see a very noble fine lady I 
spied as I went through, in coming ; and there took 
occasion to buy some gloves, and admire her, and a 
mighty fine fair lady indeed she was. Thence idling all 
the afternoon. 

September I, 1 668. 

To Bartholomew Fair, and there saw several sights ; 
among others, the mare that tells money, and many 
thii lo 5, to admiration ; and, among others, come to me, 
when she was bid to go to him of the company, that 
most loved a pretty wench in a corner. And this did 
cost me 1 2d. to the horse, which I had flung him before, 
and did give me occasion to kiss a mighty belle fille that 
was exceeding plain, but fort belle. 

September 28, 1 668. 

Knipp's maid comes to me, to tell me that the 
women's day at the playhouse is to-day, and that there- 
fore I must be there, to encrease their profit. I did give 
the pretty maid Betty that comes to me, half-a-crown 
for coming, and had a kiss or two — elle being mighty 
jolie. 

278 



MR. PEPYS AND THE FAIR SEX 

February 17, 1668-69. 

Comes Castle to me, to desire me to go to Mr. Pedly 
this night, he being to go out of town to-morrow morning, 
which I, therefore, did, by hackney-coach, first going to 
White Hall to meet with Sir W. Coventry, but missed 
him. But here I had a pleasant rencontre of a lady in 
mourning, that, by the little light I had, seemed hand- 
some. I passing by her, did observe she looked back 
again and again upon me, I suffering her to go before, 
and it being now duske. She went into the little passage 
towards the Privy Water-Gate, and I followed, but 
missed her ; but coming back again, I observed she 
returned, and went to go out of the Court. I followed 
her, and took occasion, in the new passage now built, 
where the walk is to be, to take her by the hand, to lead 
her through, which she willingly accepted, and I led her 
to the Great Gate, and there left her, she telling ^i, of 
her own accord, that she was going as far as Charing 
Cross ; but my boy was at the Gate, and so I durst not 
go out with her. 



279 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 



MR. PEPYS MARVELS AT 
WONDERFUL THINGS 

February 4, 1 66 1-62. 

To Westminster Hall, where it was full terme. Here 
all the morning, and at noon to my Lord Crewe's, where 
one Mr. Templer, an ingenious man and a person of 
honour he seems to be, dined ; and, discoursing of the 
nature of serpents, he told us some in the waste places of 
Lancashire do grow to a great bigness, and do feed upon 
larkes, which they take thus : — They observe, when the 
lark is soared to the highest, and do crawl till they come 
to be just underneath them ; and there they place them- 
selves with their mouth uppermost, and there, as is con- 
ceived, they do eject poyson upon the bird : for the bird 
do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle, 
and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent ; which 
is very strange. He is a great traveller ; and, speaking 
of the tarantula, he says that all the harvest long, about 
which times they are most busy, there are fiddlers go up 
and down the fields every where, in expectation of being 
hired by those that are stung. 

280 



MR. PEPYS MARVELS AT WONDERFUL THINGS 

November 25, 1662. 

Great talk among people how some of the Fanatiques 
do say that the end of the world is at hand, and that next 
Tuesday is to be the day. Against which, whenever it 
shall be, good God fit us all. 

May 6, 1663. 

To the Trinity House, and there dined, where, among 
other discourse worth hearing among the old seamen, 
they tell us that they have catched often, in Greenland, 
whales with the iron grapnells that had formerly been 
struck into their bodies covered over with fat ; that they 
have had eleven hogsheads of oyle out of the tongue of a 
whale. 

June 26, 1663. 

At table discoursing of thunder and lightning, Sir W. 
Rider did tell a story of his own knowledge, that a 
Genoese gaily in Leghorne Roads was struck by thunder, 
so as the mast was broke a-pieces, and the shackle upon 
one of the slaves was melted clear off his leg without 
hurting his leg. Sir William went on board the vessel, 
and would have contributed toward the release of the 
slave whom Heaven had thus set free ; but he could not 
compass it, and so he was brought to his fetters again. 

November 6, 1663. 

To the Coffee-house, and among other things heard 
Sir John Cutler say, that of his own experience in time 
of thunder so many barrels of beer as have a piece of iron 
laid upon them, will not be soured, and the others will. 

281 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

December I J, 1663. 

At my bookseller's, and I bought at a shop Cardinall 
Mazarin's Will in French. At the Coffee-house I went 
and sat by Mr. Harrington, and some East country 
merchants, and, talking of the country above Quins- 
borough, 1 and thereabouts, he told us himself that for 
fish, none there, the poorest body, will buy a dead fish, but 
must be alive, unless it be in the winter : and then they 
told us the manner of putting their nets into the water. 
Through holes made in the thick ice, they will spread a 
net of half a mile long ; and he hath known a hundred and 
thirty and a hundred and seventy barrels of fish taken at 
one draught. And then the people come with sledges 
upon the ice, with snow at the bottom, and lay the fish 
in and cover them with snow, and so carry them to 
market. And he hath seen when the said fish have been 
frozen in the sledge ; so he hath taken a fish and broke 
a-pieces, so hard it hath been ; and yet the same fishes 
taken out of the snow, and brought into a hot room, will 
be alive and leap up and down. Swallows are often 

1 Quinsborough is Konigsberg. It is most probable that Mr. Har- 
rington had been reading The Travels of Master George Barkley, Mer- 
chant of London, as given by Purchas, ii. 625, 627. Kbnigsberg is there 
spelled Kinninsburge, easily corrupted by Pepys into Quinsborough. The 
swallow story is found at p. 626 : " One here in his net drew up a 
company or heape of swallows, as big as a bushell, fastened by the leg and 
bills in one, which being carried to their stoves, quickened, and flew, 
and coming again suddenly into the cold air, dyed." It appears to have 
been generally believed. In the Advice to a Painter (1667) attributed 
to Sir John Denham, we find the following lines : — 

" So swallows, buried in the sea at Spring, 
Return to land with Summer in their [on the] wing." 
282 



MR. PEPYS MARVELS AT WONDERFUL THINGS 

brought up in their nets out of the mudd from under 
water, hanging together to some twigg or other, dead in 
ropes, and brought to the fire will come to life. Fowl 
killed in December, Alderman Barker said, he did buy, 
and putting into the box under his sledge, did forget 
to take them out to eate till Aprill next, and they then 
were found there, and were through the frost as sweet and 
fresh, and eat as well as at first killed. Young beares 
appear there ; their flesh sold in market, as ordinarily as 
beef here, and is excellent sweet meat. They tell us 
that beares there do never hurt anybody, but fly away 
from you, unless you pursue and set upon them ; but 
wolves do much mischief. Mr. Harrington told us how 
they do to get so much honey as they send abroad. 
They make hollow a great fir-tree, leaving only a small 
slit down straight in one place ; and this they close 
up again, only leave a little hole, and there the bees 
go in and fill the bodys of those trees as full of wax and 
honey as they can hold ; and the inhabitants at times go 
and open the slit, and take what they please without 
killing the bees, and so let them live there still and 
make more. Fir-trees are always planted close together, 
because of keeping one another from the violence of the 
windes ; and when a fell is made, they leave here and 
there a grown tree to preserve the young ones coming up. 
The great entertainment and sport of the Duke of Cor- 
land, and the princes thereabouts, is hunting ; which is 
not with dogs as we, but he appoints such a day, and 
summonses all the country-people as to a campagnia ; 
and by several companies gives every one their circuit, 

283 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

and they agree upon a place where the toyle is to be set ; 
and so making fires every company as they go, they drive 
all the wild beasts, whether bears, wolves, foxes, swine, 
and stags, and roes, into the toyle ; and there the great 
men have their stands in such and such places, and shoot 
at what they have a mind to, and that is their hunting. 
They are not very populous there, by reason that people 
marry, women, seldom till they are towards or above 
thirty ; and, men, thirty or forty years old, or more 
oftentimes. Against a public hunting the Duke sends 
that no wolves be killed by the people ; and, whatever 
harm they do, the Duke makes it good to the person who 
suffers it : as Mr. Harrington instanced in a house where 
he lodged, where a wolfe broke into a hog-stye, and 
bit three or four great pieces off of the back of the 
hog, before the house could come to help it ; and the 
man of the house told him that there were three or 
four wolves thereabouts that did them great hurt ; but it 
was no matter, for the Duke was to make it good to him, 
otherwise he would kill them. 

March 14, 1664. 

To White Hall ; and in the Duke's chamber, while 
he was dressing, two persons of quality that were there 
did tell his Royal Highness, how, the other night, in 
Holborne, about midnight, being at cards, a link-boy 
come by and run into the house, and told the people 
the house was a-falling. Upon this the whole family 
was frighted, concluding that the boy had said that 
the house was a-fire : so they left their cards above 

284 



MR. PEPYS MARVELS AT WONDERFUL THINGS 

and one would have got out of the balcony, but it was 
not open ; the other went up to fetch down his 
children, that were in bed : so all got clear out of the 
house. And no sooner so, but the house fell down 
indeed, from top to bottom. It seems my Lord 
Southampton's canal did come too near their foundation 
and so weakened the house, and down it come : which, 
in every respect, is a most extraordinary passage. 

April 25, 1664. 

The Duke, which gives me great good hopes, do talk 
of setting up a good discipline in the Fleet. In the 
Duke's chamber there is a bird, given him by Mr. Pierce, 
the surgeon, come from the East Indys — black the 
greatest part, with the finest collar of white about the 
neck ; but talks many things, and neyes like the horse 
and other things, the best almost that ever I heard bird 
in my life. 

August 15, 1664. 

With Sir J. Minnes ; he talking of his cures abroad, 
while he was with the King as a doctor. And among 
others, Sir J. Denham, he told me, he had cured to a 
miracle. At Charing Cross, and there saw the great 
Dutchman that is come over, under whose arm I went 
with my hat on, and could not reach higher than his 
eye-browes with the tip of my fingers. He is a comely 
and well made man, and his wife a very little but pretty 
comely Dutch woman. It is true, he wears pretty high- 
heeled shoes, but not very high, and do generally wear a 

285 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

turbant, which makes him show yet taller than really 
he is. 

September 1 1, 1664. 

(Lord's day.) This afternoon, it seems, Sir J. 
Minnes fell sick at church, and, going down the gallery 
stairs, fell down dead, but come to himself again, and is 
pretty well. 

September 16, 1664. 

Met Mr. Pargiter, and he would needs have me drink 
a cup of horse-radish ale, which he and a friend of his, 
troubled with the stone, have been drinking of, which 
we did, and then walked into the fields as far almost as 
Sir G. Whitmore's, all the way talking of Russia, which, 
he says, is a sad place j and though Moscow is a very 
great city, yet it is from the distance between house and 
house, and few people compared with this, and poor, 
sorry houses, the Emperor himself living in a wooden 
house ; his exercise only flying a hawke at pigeons, 
and carrying pigeons ten or twelve miles off, and then 
laying wagers which pigeon shall come soonest home to 
her house. All the winter within doors, some few play- 
ing at chesse, but most drinking their time away. Women 
live very slavishly there, and, it seems, in the Emperor's 
court, no room hath above two or three windows, and 
those the greatest not a yard wide or high, for warmth in 
winter time, and that the general cure for all diseases 
there is their sweating-houses ; or, people that are poor, 
they get into their ovens, being heated, and there lie. 

286 



MR. PEPYS MARVELS AT WONDERFUL THINGS 

Little learning among them of any sort. Not a man that 
speaks Latin, unless the Secretary of State by chance. 

November n, 1664. 

A gentleman told us he saw, the other day, and did 
bring the draught of it to Sir Francis Pridgeon, a monster 
born of an hostler's wife at Salisbury, two women children 
perfectly made, joyned at the lower part of their bellies, 
and every part as perfect as two bodies, and only one 
payre of legs coming forth on one side from the middle 
where they were joined. It was alive twenty-four hours 
and cried, and did as all hopefull children do ; but, being 
showed too much to people, was killed. 

December 17, 1664. 

Mighty talk there is of this Comet that is seen a'nights : 
and the King and Queen did sit up last night to see it, 
and did, it seems. And to-night I thought to have done 
so too : but it is cloudy, and so no stars appear. But I 
will endeavour it. 

December 21, 1664. 

My Lord Sandwich this day writes me word that 
he hath seen, at Portsmouth, the Comet, and says it 
is the most extraordinary thing he ever saw. 

December 24, 1664. 

Having sat up all night to past two o'clock this 
morning, our porter, being appointed, comes and tells 
us that the bellman tells him that the Star is seen 
- 287 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

upon Tower Hill ; so I, that had been all night setting 
in order all my old papers in my chamber, did leave 
off all, and my boy and I to Tower Hill, it being a 
most fine, bright, moonshine night, and a great frost, 
but no Comet to be seen. 

December 24, 1664. 

I saw the Comet, 1 which now, whether worn away or 
no I know not, appears not with a tail, but only is larger 
and duller than any other star, and is come to rise 
betimes, and to make a great arch, and is gone quite to a 
new place in the heavens than it was before : but I hope, 
in a clearer night, something more will be seen. 



September 22, 1665. 

At Blackwall. Here is observable what Johnson 
tells us, that, in digging the late Docke, they did, 12 
feet under ground, find perfect trees over-covered with 
earth. Nut-trees, with the branches and the very nuts 
upon them ; some of whose nuts he showed us. Their 
shells black with age ; and their kernell, upon opening, de- 
cayed, but their shell perfectly hard as ever. And a 
yew-tree, upon which the very ivy was taken up whole 
about it, which, upon cutting with an addes [adze], we 
found it to be rather harder than the living tree usually 
is. The armes, they say, were taken up at first whole, 
about the body, which is very strange. 

1 It is one of the twenty-four comets of which the observations have 
been collected in Halley's Astronomia Cometiae Synopsis. 

288 



MR. PEPYS MARVELS AT WONDERFUL THINGS 

August 17, 1666. 

With Captain Erwin, discoursing about the East 
Indys, where he hath often been. And, among other 
things, he tells me how the King of Syam seldom 
goes out without thirty or forty thousand people with 
him, and not a word spoke, nor a hum or cough in the 
whole company to be heard. He tells me, the punish- 
ment frequently there for malefactors, is cutting off the 
crowne of their head, which they do very dexterously, 
leaving their brains bare, which kills them presently. 
He told me what I remember he hath once done hereto- 
fore ; that every body is to lie flat down at the coming 
by of the King, and nobody to look upon him upon pain 
of death. And that he and his fellows, being strangers, 
were invited to see the sport of taking a wild elephant ; 
and they did only kneel, and look towards the King. 
Their druggerman [dragoman] did desire them to fall 
down, for otherwise he should suffer for their contempt 
of the King. The sport being ended, a messenger 
comes from the King, which the druggerman thought 
had been to have taken away his life ; but it was to 
enquire how the strangers liked the sport. The drugger- 
man answered, that they did cry it up to be the best 
that ever they saw, and that they never heard of any 
Prince so great in every thing as this King. The 
messenger being gone back, Erwin and his company 
asked their druggerman what he had said, which he 
told them. " But why," they say, "would you say that 
without our leave, it being not true ? " — " It makes no 
matter for that," says he ; "I must have said it, or have 

289 u 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

been hanged ; for our King do not live by meat, nor 
drink, but by having great lyes told him." 

March 18, 1667. 

This day Mr. Caesar told me a pretty experiment 
01 his, of angling with a minnikin, a gut-string varnished 
over, which keeps it from swelling, and is beyond any 
hair for strength and smallness. The secret I like 
mightily. 

August 18, 1667. 

Took coach and home, and there took up my wife 
and to Islington. Between that and Kingsland, there 
happened an odd adventure : one of our coach-horses fell 
sick of the staggers, so as he was ready to fall down. The 
coachman was fain to 'light, and hold him up, and cut 
his tongue to make him bleed, and his tail : then he blew 
some tobacco in his nose, upon which the horse sneezed, 
and, by and by, grew well, and drew us all the rest of 
our way, as well as ever he did. 

September 27, 1667. 

Creed and Sheres come and dined with me ; and we 
had a great deal of pretty discourse of the ceremonious- 
ness of the Spaniards, whose ceremonies are so many and 
so known, that, Sheres tells me, upon all occasions of joy 
or sorrow in a Grandee's family, my Lord Embassador 
is fain to send one with an en hora buena, if it be upon 
a marriage, or birth of a child, or a pesa me^ if it be upon 
the death of a child, or so. And these ceremonies are 

290 



MR. PEPYS MARVELS AT WONDERFUL THINGS 

so set, and the words of the compliment, that he hath 
been sent from my Lord, when he hath done no more 
than send in word to the Grandee that one was there 
from the Embassador ; and he knowing what was his 
errand, that hath been enough, and he never spoke 
with him : nay, several Grandees having been to marry 
a daughter, have wrote letters to my Lord to give 
him notice, and out of the greatness of his wisdom to 
desire his advice, though people he never saw ; and then 
my Lord he answers by commending the greatness of his 
discretion in making so good an alliance, etc., and so 
ends. He says that it is so far from dishonour to a man 
to give private revenge for an affront, that the con- 
trary is a disgrace ; they holding that he that receives an 
affront is not fit to appear in the sight of the world till he 
hath revenged himself; and therefore, that a gentleman 
there that receives an affront oftentimes never appears 
again in the world till he hath, by some private way 
or other, revenged himself: and that, on this account, 
several have followed their enemies privately to the Indys, 
thence to Italy, thence to France and back again, waiting 
for an opportunity to be revenged. He says my Lord 
was fain to keep a letter from the Duke of York to the 
Queen of Spain a great while in his hands, before he 
could think fit to deliver it, till he had learnt whether the 
Queen could receive it, it being directed to his cozen. 
He says that many ladies in Spain, after they are 
found to be with child, do never stir out of their beds or 
chambers till they are brought to bed : so ceremonious 
they are in that point also. He tell me of their wooing 

291 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

by serenades at the window, and that their friends do 
always make the match ; but yet they have opportunities 
to meet at masse at church, and there they make love ; 
that the Court there hath no dancing, nor visits at 
night to see the King or Queen, but is always just 
like a cloyster, nobody stirring in it : that my Lord 
Sandwich wears a beard now, turned up in the Spanish 
manner. 

February 24, 1667-68. 

I was prettily served this day at the playhouse door, 
where, giving six shillings into the fellow's hand for 
three of us, the fellow by legerdemain did convey one 
away, and with so much grace faced me down that I 
did give him but five, that, though I knew the con- 
trary, yet I was overpowered by his so grave and 
serious demanding the other shilling, that I could not 
deny him, but was forced by myself to give it him. 

May 21, 1668. 

All the town is full of the talk of a meteor, or 
some fire, that did on Saturday last fly over the city 
at night, which do put me in mind that, being then 
walking in the dark an hour or more myself in the 
garden, after I had done writing, I did see a light 
before me come from behind me, which made me turn 
back my head ; and I did see a sudden fire or light 
running in the sky, as it were towards Cheapside 
ward, and it vanished very quick, which did make me 
bethink myself what holyday it was, and took it for 

292 



MR. PEPYS MARVELS AT WONDERFUL THINGS 

some rocket, though it was much brighter : and the 
world do make much discourse ot it, their apprehen- 
sions being mighty full of the rest of the City to be 
burned, and the Papists to cut our throats. 

December 21, 1668. 

Went into Holborne, and there saw the woman that 
is to be seen with a beard. She is a little plain woman, 
a Dane : her name Ursula Dyan ; about forty years 
old ; her voice like a little girl's ; with a beard as 
much as any man I ever saw, black almost, and grizly; 
it began to grow at about seven years old, and was 
shaved not above seven months ago, and is now so 
big as any man's almost that ever I saw ; I say, 
bushy and thick. It was a strange sight to me, I 
confess, and what pleased me mightily. 

April 8, 1669. 

Going through Smithfield, I did see a coach run 
over a coachman's neck, and stand upon it, and yet 
the man rose up, and was well after it, which I thought 
a wonder. 

April 20, 1669. 

In the afternoon we walked to the Old Artillery- 
Ground near the Spitalfields, where I never was before, 
but now, by Captain Deane's invitation, did go to see 
his new gun tryed, this being the place where the 
Officers of the Ordnance do try all their great guns ; 
and when we came, did find that the trial had been 

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RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

made j and they going away with extraordinary report 
of the proof of his gun, which, from the shortness and 
bigness, they do call Punchinello. But I desired Colonel 
Legg to stay and give us a sight of her performance, 
which he did, and there, in short, against a gun more than 
as long and as heavy again, and charged with as much 
powder again, she carried the same bullet as strong to the 
mark, and nearer and above the mark at a point blank 
than their's, and is more easily managed, and recoiles 
no more than that, which is a thing so extraordinary 
as to be admired for the happiness of his invention, and to 
the great regret of the old Gunners and Officers of the 
Ordnance that were there, only Colonel Legg did do 
her much right in his report of her. 



294 



MR. PEPYS'S EYESIGHT 



MR. PEPYS'S EYESIGHT 

^January 19, 1663-64. 

My eyes began to fail me, and to be in pain, which I 
never felt to now-a-days. 

May 5, 1664. 

My eyes beginning every day to grow less and less able 
to bear with long reading or writing, though it be by 
daylight ; which I never observed till now. 

November 4, 1667. 

To Turlington, the great spectacle-maker, for advice, 
who dissuades me from using old spectacles, but rather 
young ones, and do tell me that nothing can wrong my 
eyes more than for me to use reading-glasses, which do 
magnify much. 

June 23, 1668. 

To Dr. Turberville about my eyes, whom I met with : 
and he did discourse, I thought, learnedly about them ; 
and takes time before he did prescribe me any thing, to 
think of it. 

295 



RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

June 29, 1668. 

To Dr. Turberville's, and there did receive a direction 
for some physic, and also a glass of something to drop 
into my eyes : he gives me hopes that I may do well. 

June 30, 1668. 

To bed, my eyes bad, but not worse, only weary with 
working. But, however, very melancholy under the 
fear of my eyes being spoiled, and not to be recovered ; 
for I am come that I am not able to read out a small 
letter, and yet my sight good for the little while I can 
read, as ever it was, I think. 

July 3, 1 668. 

To an alehouse : met Mr. Pierce, the surgeon, and 
Dr. Clerke, Waldron, Turberville, my physician for the 
eyes, and Lowre, to dissect several eyes of sheep and 
oxen, with great pleasure, and to my great information. 
But strange that this Turberville should be so great a 
man, and yet, to this day, had seen no eyes dissected, or 
but once, but desired this Dr. Lowre to give him the 
opportunity to see him dissect some. 

July 5, 1668. 

(Lord's day.) About four in the morning took four 
pills of Dr. Turberville's prescribing, for my eyes, and I 
did get my wife to spend the morning reading of 
Wilkins's Reall Character. 

296 



MR. PEPYS'S EYESIGHT 



July 13, 1668. 

This morning I was let blood, and did bleed about 
fourteen ounces, towards curing my eyes. 

July 31, 1668. 

The month ends mighty sadly with me, my eyes being 
now past all use almost ; and I am mighty hot upon 
trying the late printed experiment of paper tubes. 

August 2, 1668. 

Walked to Barne Elmes, and there, and going and 
coming, did make the boy read to me several things, 
being now-a-days unable to read myself anything, for 
above two lines together, but my eyes grow weary. 

August 23, 1668. 

After dinner to the Office, Mr. Gibson and I, to 
examine my letter to the Duke of York, which, to my 
great joy, I did very well by my paper tube, without 
pain to my eyes. 

March 28, 1669. 

(Lord's day.) To the Office with Tom, who looks 
mighty snug upon his marriage, as Jane also do, both of 
whom I did give joy, and so Tom and I to work at the 
Office all the morning, till dinner, and then dined, 
W. Batelier with us ; and so after dinner to work again, 
and sent for Gibson, and kept him also till eight at night, 
doing much business. And so, that being done, and my 
Journal writ, my eyes being very bad, and every day 

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RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

worse and worse, I fear : but I find it most certain that 
stronge drinks do make my eyes sore, as they have done 
heretofore always ; for, when I was in the country, when 
my eyes were at the best, their stronge beere would make 
my eyes sore ; so home to supper, and by and by to bed. 

April 2, 1669. 

This night I did bring home from the King's potte- 
cary's, in White Hall, by Mr. Cooling's direction, a 
water that he says is mighty good for his eyes. I pray 
God it may do me good ; but, by his description, his 
disease was the same as mine, and this do encourage me 
to use it. 

April 11, 1669. 

Home, and so set down my Journal, with the help of 
my left eye through my tube, for fourteen days past ; 
which is so much as, I hope, I shall not run in arrear 
again, but the badness of my eyes do force me to it. 

April 2 5, 1669. 

(Lord's day.) Up, and to my Office awhile, and 
thither comes Lead with my vizard, with a tube fastened 
within both eyes ; which, with the help which he prompts 
me to, of a glass in the tube, do content me mightily. To 
church, where a stranger made a dull sermon, but I 
mightily pleased to look upon Mr. Buckworth's little 
pretty daughters. W. Howe came and dined with us ; 
and then I to my Office, he being gone, to write down 
my Journal for the last twelve days : and did it with the 

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MR. PEPYS'S EYESIGHT 



help of my vizard and tube fixed to it, and do find it 
mighty manageable, but how helpful to my eyes this trial 
will show me. 

April 30, 1669. 

I to my coach, which is silvered over, but no varnish 
yet laid on, so I put it in a way of doing ; and myself 
about other business, and particularly to see Sir W. 
Coventry, with whom I talked a good while to my great 
content ; and so to other places — among others, to my 
tailor's : and then to the beltmaker's, where my belt cost 
me 55s. of the colour of my new suit ; and here, under- 
standing that the mistress of the house, an oldish woman 
in a hat, hath some water good for the eyes, she did dress 
me, making my eyes smart most horribly, and did give 
me a little glass of it, which I will use, and hope it will 
do me good. 

May 31, 1669. 

Up very betimes, and continued all the morning with 
W. Hewer, upon examining and stating my accounts, in 
order to the fitting myself to go abroad beyond sea, 
which the ill condition of my eyes, and my neglect for a 
year or two hath kept me behind-hand in, and so as to 
render it very difficult now, and troublesome to my mind 
to do it ; but I this day made a satisfactory entrance 
therein. Had another meeting with the Duke of York, 
at White Hall, on yesterday's work, and made a good 
advance : and so, being called by my wife, we to the 
Park, Mary Batelier, and a Dutch gentleman, a friend of 

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RED-LETTER DAYS OF SAMUEL PEPYS 

hers, being with us. Thence to " The World's End," a 
drinking-house by the Park ; and there merry, and so 
home late. 






And thus ends all that I doubt I shall ever be able to 
do with my own eyes in the keeping of my Journal, I 
being not able to do it any longer, having done now so 
long as to undo my eyes almost every time that I take a 
pen in my hand ; and, therefore, whatever comes of it, I 
must forbear : and, therefore, resolve, from this time 
forward, to have it kept by my people in long-hand, and 
must be contented to set down no more than is fit for 
them and all the world to know ; or, if there be any 
thing, I must endeavour to keep a margin in my book 
open, to add, here and there, a note in short-hand with 
my own hand. 

And so I betake myself to that course, which is almost 
as much as to see myself go into my grave : for which, 
and all the discomforts that will accompany my being 
blind, the good God prepare me ! 

S. P. 



THE END. 



UNWIN BROTHERS, LIMITED, THE GRESHAM PRESS. WOKING AND LONDON. 



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